Narrative:

During takeoff roll at approximately 100 KTS, the flight attendant called the cockpit. V1 was at 111 KTS so we ignored the first call. After rotation at approximately 300 ft, the flight attendant called the cockpit again. I answered the call. The flight attendant stated there were sparks and smoke coming from a light in the overhead panel (above the passenger). The captain declared an emergency stating that we had a fire in the cabin. We were immediately cleared to land. Because of our close proximity to the airport and after checking again with the flight attendants to find that the sparks and smoke had stopped, we decided not to run any emergency checklists and concentrate on landing as soon as possible. All normal checklists were accomplished and we landed. We evacuate/evacuationed on the taxiway after clearing the runway using the main cabin door only. I think the sparks and smoke were caused by the ballast in a fluorescent light.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATR72 FLT CREW HAS SPARKS AND SMOKE EMITTING FROM A LIGHT FIXTURE DURING TKOF.

Narrative: DURING TKOF ROLL AT APPROX 100 KTS, THE FLT ATTENDANT CALLED THE COCKPIT. V1 WAS AT 111 KTS SO WE IGNORED THE FIRST CALL. AFTER ROTATION AT APPROX 300 FT, THE FLT ATTENDANT CALLED THE COCKPIT AGAIN. I ANSWERED THE CALL. THE FLT ATTENDANT STATED THERE WERE SPARKS AND SMOKE COMING FROM A LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD PANEL (ABOVE THE PAX). THE CAPT DECLARED AN EMER STATING THAT WE HAD A FIRE IN THE CABIN. WE WERE IMMEDIATELY CLRED TO LAND. BECAUSE OF OUR CLOSE PROX TO THE ARPT AND AFTER CHKING AGAIN WITH THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO FIND THAT THE SPARKS AND SMOKE HAD STOPPED, WE DECIDED NOT TO RUN ANY EMER CHKLISTS AND CONCENTRATE ON LNDG ASAP. ALL NORMAL CHKLISTS WERE ACCOMPLISHED AND WE LANDED. WE EVACED ON THE TXWY AFTER CLRING THE RWY USING THE MAIN CABIN DOOR ONLY. I THINK THE SPARKS AND SMOKE WERE CAUSED BY THE BALLAST IN A FLUORESCENT LIGHT.

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.