Narrative:

A321 parked at gate [at] ZZZ. At near passenger boarding completion; with positive control area (precondition air unit) attached to aircraft and operating; flight attendant [reported] uncomfortably high cabin temperature. We then started the APU. Within 2 to 3 minutes; both first officer and I smelled a strong burning rubber odor; followed immediately by a call from the flight attendant stationed in the aircraft aft that the cabin was filling up rapidly with smoke. After visual confirmation; I shut down the APU and initiated an emergency deplaning and requested arff (air rescue and firefighting). I then switched off all power to the aircraft except the utility bus. The first officer did a quick exterior inspection and requested ground personnel to disconnect positive control area. No external smoke or fire observed. We completed an aml (aircraft maintenance log) entry and smoke and odor form. We then proceeded to another assigned aircraft. No passengers or crew members reported medical conditions associated with the smoke and odor event. Unknown cause at the time we left aircraft to fly spare aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A321 flight crew reported deplaning and requesting ARFF due to strong burning rubber odor and smoke onboard.

Narrative: A321 parked at gate [at] ZZZ. At near passenger boarding completion; with PCA (Precondition Air Unit) attached to aircraft and operating; Flight Attendant [reported] uncomfortably high cabin temperature. We then started the APU. Within 2 to 3 minutes; both First Officer and I smelled a strong burning rubber odor; followed immediately by a call from the Flight Attendant stationed in the aircraft aft that the cabin was filling up rapidly with smoke. After visual confirmation; I shut down the APU and initiated an emergency deplaning and requested ARFF (Air Rescue and Firefighting). I then switched off all power to the aircraft except the utility bus. The First Officer did a quick exterior inspection and requested ground personnel to disconnect PCA. No external smoke or fire observed. We completed an AML (Aircraft Maintenance Log) entry and smoke and odor form. We then proceeded to another assigned aircraft. No passengers or crew members reported medical conditions associated with the smoke and odor event. Unknown cause at the time we left aircraft to fly spare aircraft.

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.