Occurrence
On the evening of the incident, Inter Canadien flight 668, a Fokker F-28 MK 1000, had arrived from Montreal and was parked at boarding gate 3 of Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City. At approximately 1827 eastern standard time, in clear night conditions, a flight attendant opened the forward baggage compartment door and observed thick white smoke and reddish flames within. The door was immediately closed and the crew was alerted. The pilot-in-command ordered an evacuation and instructed the co-pilot to contact emergency services.
Evacuation and Firefighting
Passengers evacuated rapidly via the left forward airstair and the right forward evacuation slide. Airport fire-fighters arrived promptly with two emergency vehicles. The first fire-fighter, equipped with a dry chemical extinguisher, asked the pilot-in-command if the aircraft's baggage compartment extinguishers had been activated. The pilot responded that the aircraft was not equipped with such extinguishers. The fire-fighter then opened the compartment door, discharged the extinguisher at the flames, and closed the door to suffocate the fire. Donning a respirator, he re-entered to remove baggage, first unloading the forward section. As he moved aft, pieces of baggage reignited upon exposure to air, and were sprayed with a mixture of dry chemical and water from a fire hose. All items were laid out on the loading ramp.
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigated. The flight crew and cabin crew were certified and qualified. The aircraft was certified, equipped, and maintained per regulations. The baggage compartment, about three-quarters full, had a fire-resistant inner wall, two doors (forward and aft), floodlights recessed in the ceiling with grilles, and restraint nets. Heat damage was concentrated in front of the aft door, under the ceiling light, and toward the center. Soot was found on upper panels. Two black folding travel bags, three hand bags, and a plastic mail box were fire-damaged. The fire initiated between the travel bags and two hand bags, spreading upward. The plastic container under the travel bags melted. The origin of the fire could not be determined.
Baggage Examination
Baggage and contents were sent to the TSB Engineering Branch Laboratory. Tests on the baggage compartment light showed no ignition from prolonged contact. Spraying hair spray on the light at 150°C produced no flame. The light switches' position could not be determined; no baggage handlers recalled seeing the lights illuminated on departure or arrival. With handler assistance, baggage was repositioned as at departure: a grey plastic mail box on the floor, travel bags together, cardboard boxes on top near the ceiling. Evidence indicated the fire originated between the travel bags and spread upward. A small travel bag, a canvas mail bag, and a down coat were considerably burned. Cardboard boxes were also burned. Among the baggage, permitted dangerous goods were found: an aerosol can of hair spray and a container of shaving cream. The hair spray container did not explode; its valve spring remained in place. The fire was extinguished as carbon dioxide increased and oxygen depleted. The exact start time could not be determined, but all indications pointed to the fire originating in flight.
Safety Actions
Following the occurrence, the company installed protective covers on all baggage compartment lights to prevent contact with bulbs and reduce fire risk. The manufacturer evaluated modifying the lamp guard on all Fokker F-28 models to reduce heat accumulation potential. The TSB concluded that the baggage compartment's design contained the fire as expected. The fire occurred in the baggage compartment, probably during flight, with an undetermined cause.
Probable Cause
The cause of the fire could not be determined.