B737 crew starts APU during descent followed by fire warning. Emergency declared, landing uneventful...

Attributes
ACN	458220
Time
Date	199912
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc tower : atl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	458220
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During the descent phase, at about 16000 ft MSL, I started the APU. After about 1 min, we experienced a fire warning. The fire handle was pulled and the fire bottle discharged. After about 2 seconds, the fire indication went out. We declared an emergency and proceeded directly to boston for an uneventful landing. The fire chief confirmed no fire present, and I taxied to the gate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW STARTS APU DURING DSCNT FOLLOWED BY FIRE WARNING. EMER DECLARED, LNDG UNEVENTFUL.

Narrative: DURING THE DSCNT PHASE, AT ABOUT 16000 FT MSL, I STARTED THE APU. AFTER ABOUT 1 MIN, WE EXPERIENCED A FIRE WARNING. THE FIRE HANDLE WAS PULLED AND THE FIRE BOTTLE DISCHARGED. AFTER ABOUT 2 SECONDS, THE FIRE INDICATION WENT OUT. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO BOSTON FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. THE FIRE CHIEF CONFIRMED NO FIRE PRESENT, AND I TAXIED TO THE GATE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.