PA28 pilot reported an engine compartment fire during engine start.

Attributes
ACN	1307105
Time
Date	201510
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Carburetor
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Student
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 14 Flight Crew Total 76 Flight Crew Type 73
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

Narrative:

I attempted to start my airplane. As I was following the checklist; I engaged the starter. The engine made a sound I would call a 'backfire' and I noticed black smoke coming from the front of the engine cowling. I initiated the 'engine fire-engine not running' procedure from the checklist but the fire did not go out. I exited the aircraft when the smoke started to enter the cockpit. I used a fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. I was able to get a water hose; push the aircraft in range of the hose; and extinguish the fire.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot reported an engine compartment fire during engine start.

Narrative: I attempted to start my airplane. As I was following the checklist; I engaged the starter. The engine made a sound I would call a 'backfire' and I noticed black smoke coming from the front of the engine cowling. I initiated the 'Engine fire-Engine not running' procedure from the checklist but the fire did not go out. I exited the aircraft when the smoke started to enter the cockpit. I used a fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. I was able to get a water hose; push the aircraft in range of the hose; and extinguish the fire.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.