B777 FLT CREW HAS LAPTOP CATCH FIRE IN THE CABIN WHILE PARKED AT THE GATE PRIOR TO DEP.

Narrative

ABOUT 15 MINS BEFORE DEP WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT A LAPTOP COMPUTER WAS ON FIRE AT SEAT 1A. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE. WHEN I TURNED AROUND TO LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER IT APPEARED THAT THE ENTIRE FIRST CLASS CABIN WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE BURNING SMELL WAS VERY OBVIOUS. THE RELIEF PLT; A FIRST CLASS PAX AND THE PURSER ASSISTED IN PUTTING OUT THE FIRE AND REMOVING THE LAPTOP FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE PAX TOOK THE LAPTOP TO THE TERMINAL WHERE THE FIRE REIGNITED AND REQUIRED 3 FIRE BOTTLES FROM THE LAX FIRE DEPT TO EXTINGUISH. I STAYED ON BOARD AND HELPED WITH SMOKE REMOVAL. THE FLYING COPLT CALLED THE STATION AND SAID THAT WE HAD A FIRE ONBOARD THE ACFT AND REQUIRED THE FORWARD JETWAY TO BE PULLED UP IN CASE WE NEEDED TO EVAC. OPS TOLD HIM TO CALL MAINT! EVEN AFTER A SECOND CALL TO OPS ABOUT THE FIRE THE JETWAY WAS NOT PULLED UP. THE CARPET DID CATCH ON FIRE BUT WAS PUT OUT WITHOUT THE USE OF AN EXTINGUISHER. IT TOOK ABOUT 10 MINS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL AND SMOKE. AS A MINIMUM WE SHOULD; IN THE FUTURE; PROHIBIT CARRIAGE OF LAPTOPS IN THE COCKPIT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AIRBORNE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION.