EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Declared Emergency; General Evacuated
Aircraft
As the Captain and I were preparing for push back while at the gate during the boarding process; the APU failed. We smelled something burning. No EICAS message was presented. Almost immediately thereafter; a pilot from another crew told us our APU was on fire. The Captain called for an evacuation of the aircraft. The Flight Attendant immediately got everyone off the airplane and directed them back into the terminal. The Captain declared an emergency with Ground frequency and called for fire trucks. We ran the APU fire QRH and pushed the APU fire extinguishing button as per the QRH. The fire trucks additionally used external extinguishing aids. The fire was extinguished. Also; the APU had an MEL for an inoperative generator; which could be considered a threat since it required abnormal operation.
An EMB-145 APU shutdown prior to pushback and subseqently a pilot informed them the APU as on fire so the aircraft was evacuated; an emergency declared; the QRH completed and the Fire Crew extinguished the fire.