MD88 FLC HAS ENG FIRE DURING START.

Narrative

AFTER PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE WE BEGAN A SINGLE ENG TAXI FOR TKOF. WE COMPLETED THE TAXI CHKLIST AND INITIATED THE DELAYED START CHKLIST FOR THE #2 ENG. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT SELECTED TO THE 'ON' POS PRIOR TO THE FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH BEING SELECTED ON. WHEN THE ENG FAILED TO START; THE FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH MOTORED BEFORE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SELECTED ON. CONSEQUENTLY; A TAILPIPE FIRE ENSUED. THE TWR CTLR SAW THE FLAMES COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE AND INFORMED US. I STOPPED THE ACFT; SELECTED THE FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH TO LFF; AND BEGAN TO MOTOR THE ENG TO CLR THE FUEL AND STOP THE FIRE. ALTHOUGH NO ENG FIRE INDICATION OCCURRED; THE EGT EXCEEDED THE 475 DEGS C LIMIT. THE CTLR CONTINUED TO SEE FLAMES FROM THE TAILPIPE; SO I ELECTED TO HAVE THE EMER EQUIP ASSIST US. THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A COMBINATION OF WATER AND FOAM. WITH THE FIRE OUT AND NO INDICATION OF ANY SMOKE OR FUMES IN THE CABIN OF THE ACFT; THE ONBOARD LEAD AND I DETERMINED THERE WAS NO NEED TO EVAC THE ACFT. WE HAD A TUG PULL US TO THE GATE. WE INFORMED OUR 3 PAX OF THE PROB AND SIT. SAFELY AT THE GATE; I CONTACTED THE DISPATCHER; MAINT COORDINATOR; AND DUTY PLT TO INFORM THEM OF THE SIT AS WELL.