AN ACR B767 FLC DISCOVERED THAT A CAMCORDER BATTERY HAD OVERHEATED IN A CARRY-ON BAG AND WAS CAUSING SMOKE AND FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN FROM THE OVERHEAD STORAGE BIN.

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DURING A SLIGHT DELAY FOR A MAINT PROB; A SMELL WAS NOTED BY A FLT ATTENDANT AND PASSED TO THE COCKPIT. INTL RELIEF PLT WENT BACK TO INVESTIGATE AND CONFIRMED SMELL. MAINT WAS CALLED TO INVESTIGATE. THEY STARTED TO TAKE DOWN PANELS AND PAX WERE OBSERVING AND GETTING CONCERNED. DECISION WAS MADE TO DEPLANE PAX; WHEN FLT ATTENDANT OPENED OVERHEAD BIN AND NOTICED SMOKE FROM A PAX BAG. MAINT REMOVED BAG TO JETBRIDGE WHERE SEVERAL CLOTH ITEMS WERE SMOLDERING. CAUSE APPEARED TO BE A CAMCORDER BATTERY WHICH WAS EXTREMELY HOT. PAX ACCOMPANIED BAG AND REMOVED ALL ARTICLES ON FIRE. WHEN BAG CHKED; WE DEPARTED A FEW MINS LATER. WE ARE THANKFUL THIS WAS CAUGHT BEFORE FLT; AND GLAD IT WAS NOT IN BELLY WHEN FIRE STARTED. REMAINDER OF FLT UNEVENTFUL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE CAPT IS CONTINUING TO PURSUE THIS INCIDENT WITH HIS COMPANY. THE INITIAL REACTION OF HIS IMMEDIATE SUPVR; ACCORDING TO THE CAPT; WAS THAT NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE THE VARIOUS CREW MEMBERS REACTED SWIFTLY. THEREFORE THE MATTER WAS NOT WORTH INVESTIGATING FURTHER. THE CAPT; IN PART; BLAMES HIMSELF FOR NOT GATHERING MORE INFO FROM THE PAX. HE SAID THAT THE PAX WAS VERY UPSET THAT THIS HAPPENED AND WAS QUITE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER IF THEY HAD BEEN AIRBORNE. THE MAINT TECHNICIAN WHO REMOVED THE BATTERY BURNED HIS HAND. SOME OF THE CLOTHING IN THE CARRY-ON BAG APPEARED TO BE SCORCHED OR MELTED. THE CAPT DID NOT SEE ANY METALLIC ITEMS AMONG THE REMAINS OF THE CLOTHING VISIBLE TO HIM. HE SAID THAT A PREVIOUS BATTERY INCIDENT INVOLVED A METAL ZIPPER THAT CONTACTED BOTH POLES OF A BATTERY CREATING A DIRECT SHORT THAT CAUSED SMOKE TO DEVELOP. THIS BATTERY WAS ALSO PACKED LOOSE AMONG THE PAX CLOTHING. THE CAPT IS GOING TO CALL ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AIRLINE'S SAFETY OFFICE TO SEE IF MORE INFO IS AVAILABLE.