CAPT OF LTT EVACED ACFT AFTER STARTING THE R ENG DUE TO SMOKE FROM THE CTR PEDESTAL. SUBSEQUENT MAINT REVIEW RESULTED IN AN ACTUAL FIRE WHEN THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. (BEECH I900 TYPE ACFT.)

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I HAD JUST STARTED THE R ENG AND HAD TURNED ON THE OVERHEAD PANEL LIGHTS WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE RUDDER TRIM KNOB. I TOLD THE FO TO EVACUATE THE AIRPLANE WHILE I SHUT DOWN THE AIRPLANE. FOLLOWING ENG SHUTDOWN; THE SMOPKE CEASED. THE PAX WERE EVACED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE MECH WAS NOTIFIED. WHEN PWR WAS REAPPLIED AND THE PANEL LIGHTS TURNED ON; SMOKE BEGAN AGAIN FOLLOWED BY A SMALL FIRE. AS A CREW; WE WERE CONCERNED THAT IF THIS SAME SIT HAD HAPPENED IN FLT; OUR EMER CHKLIST REQUIRES DEPLOYING THE OXYGEN MASKS. BEECH HAS PUT OUT A MEMO SAYING NOT TO USE THE OXYGEN MASKS. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY HAS NOTIFIED THE FAA; NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN OVER A YR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT SHE IS STILL CONCERNED WITH REGARD TO A POSSIBLE SMOKE/FIRE IN- FLT INCIDENT SINCE SHE HAS HEARD BACK NOTHING THROUGH THE COMPANY FOR A RESOLUTION TO THE PROB. THE EMER PROCEDURE IS CONTRARY TO THE LATEST BEECH BULLETIN WHEREIN THE MASK CANNOT BE USED FOR SMOKE SINCE THEY MAY ADD OXYGEN TO THE SMOKE SOURCE SINCE THE PLASTIC MASK FIT OVER THE 'BOOM' STYLE COMMUNICATION HEAD SETS ARE CONSEQUENTLY NOT SEALED TO THE FACE! THE RPTR FURTHER STATED THAT SHE WILL CHK AGAIN WITH THE CHIEF PLT FOR ANY LATER DISPOSITION OR RESOLUTION ON THIS MATTER.