ENGINE FIRE ON START UP REQUIRED THE USE OF GND FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Narrative

DURING PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE AT EWR IN A WDB WE WERE STARTING ENGS. WE GOT A GOOD START ON ENG #2 AND DID NOT GET A LIGHT OFF ON THE START OF THE #1 ENG. WE CONSULTED THE ABNORMAL PROCS FOR NO LIGHT OFF AND ATTEMPTED ANOTHER START WITH AN ALTERNATE IGNITION SYS. ALL ENG PARAMETERS WERE NORMAL WHEN THE HEADSET/RAMP OPERATOR INFORMED US THAT THE #1 ENG WAS ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY SECURED THE START LEVER AND WE MOTORED THE ENG TO BLOW OUT THE FIRE. AFTER 30 SECS THE FIRE WAS RPTED STILL BURNING AND THE FIRE HANDLE WAS PULLED AND FIRE BOTTLE #1 ACTIVATED. AFTER ANOTHER 30-45 SECS THE RAMP OPERATOR RPTED THAT THE FIRE WAS STILL BURNING AND FIRE BOTTLE #2 WAS ACTIVATED. THE FIRE IN THE #1 ENG WAS FINALLY PUT OUT AFTER THE RAMP PERSONNEL EXPENDED PKP FIRE RETARDANT INTO THE ENG. THE ARPT CRASH CREW WAS CALLED AS A BACK UP. THOUGH THE FIRE WAS ISOLATED TO THE TAILPIPE SECTION; WE IN THE COCKPIT DID NOT KNOW THIS. IT WOULD HAVE HELPED IF THE RAMP OPERATOR HAD BEEN MORE SPECIFIC IN DESCRIBING THE FIRE'S LOCATION. WE ALL HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET EXCITED DURING ANY KIND OF FIRE--ESPECIALLY INEXPERIENCED RAMP PERSONNEL. THE PAX WERE NOT EVAC'D AND WERE KEPT INFORMED OF THE SITUATION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: IGNITER THAT WAS BEING USED FOR THE START IS LOCATED IN THE LOWER PORTION ON THE ENG. SUSPECT IT HAD BECOME FOULED WITH FUEL ON THE FIRST START ATTEMPT. EXCESS FUEL HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE ENG IN SPITE OF USING PROPER PROC TO BLOW OUT THE FUEL AND THE RESULTING FIRE WHEN THE OTHER IGNITER WAS USED ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. ACFT EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM DOES NOT FIRE INTO THE HOT SECTION AND AS A RESULT WAS INEFFECTIVE. FIRE CREWS WERE ASKED TO STAND BY AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BECAUSE FUEL CONTINUED TO DRAIN FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR; THE ACFT WAS TOWED BACK INTO THE GATE AND ACFT CHANGE MADE. SUBJECT ACFT WAS BACK IN SERVICE THAT AFTERNOON AFTER A WASH-DOWN OF THE ENGINE. OPERATION NORMAL.