EMER DECLARED FOR LGT'S ACFT EQUIP PROB IN RAMP OP PUSHBACK RAMP DEP PROC.

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UPON PUSHBACK AND CLRNC FROM OUR GND CREW TO TAXI; THE GND CREW INFORMED US OF WHITE SMOKE FROM OUR R WING/WHEEL WELL AREA WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY OUR FO. IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF APU WAS ACCOMPLISHED. AFTER NORMAL ENG INDICATION WAS CONFIRMED; THE GND CREW INFORMED US THE SMOKE WAS DISSIPATING. OUR STATION MGR; UPON FIRST SIGNS OF SMOKE; CALLED FOR FIRE/RESCUE TEAM. WITH THE PRESENCE OF FIRE/RESCUE AND NO FURTHER SIGNS OF SMOKE; WE SHUT DOWN THE ENGS AND WERE TOWED BACK TO GATE AND CLR OF THE TXWY. AFTER INSPECTION; IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FLAP ACTUATOR HAD BLOWN A SEAL AND HYD FLUID WAS SPRAYING ON THE HOT APU EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE QUICK COM OF SMOKE BY THE GND CREW TO THE FLC ENABLED A TIMELY SHUTDOWN OF APU AND ARRESTED ANY POSSIBILITY OF THE SMOKE ESCALATING INTO A FIRE HAZARD. THE HEADS-UP CALL FOR THE FIRE/RESCUE BY THE STATION MGR PROVIDED NEEDED SAFETY BACKUP HAD THE SIT DETERIORATED. THIS WAS A GOOD CASE OF A BAD SIT; THROUGH EFFECTIVE COM; PROPER APPLICATION OF PROCS; AND RAPID ASSESSMENT OF IMPENDING CATASTROPHE; WAS PREVENTED TO BECOME AN INCIDENT OR A STATISTIC. CREDIT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PROFESSIONALISM EXHIBITED AND THE FINE TRAINING THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY RECEIVED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL FROM THEIR COMPANY.