What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative: on December 29, 1997 Reno air, DC-9, N843RA, flight 156 from rno to den had an APU fire annunciator light illuminate at 2330Z, at gate C9, Reno/tahoe airport. The #1 fire bottle was discharged which apparently extinguished the fire. As a precautionary measure the PIC notified Reno ATCT who called the airport fire department and also the passengers were removed through the jetway exit. The emergency was terminated by the fire department at 2336Z. It was determined that the APU starter was the source of the fire. Damage was contained to the APU starter and starter wire leads. Aircraft was repaired and returned to service January 3, 1998. A teardown report for the APU starter has been requested. On 2/5/98, received teardown report, upon initial inspection, the starter was found to be burnt throughout. Unit looks to have been hung start. This incident is considered closed.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: ON DECEMBER 29, 1997 RENO AIR, DC-9, N843RA, FLIGHT 156 FROM RNO TO DEN HAD AN APU FIRE ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATE AT 2330Z, AT GATE C9, RENO/TAHOE AIRPORT. THE #1 FIRE BOTTLE WAS DISCHARGED WHICH APPARENTLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE THE PIC NOTIFIED RENO ATCT WHO CALLED THE AIRPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE PASSENGERS WERE REMOVED THROUGH THE JETWAY EXIT. THE EMERGENCY WAS TERMINATED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT 2336Z. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE APU STARTER WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. DAMAGE WAS CONTAINED TO THE APU STARTER AND STARTER WIRE LEADS. AIRCRAFT WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE JANUARY 3, 1998. A TEARDOWN REPORT FOR THE APU STARTER HAS BEEN REQUESTED. ON 2/5/98, RECEIVED TEARDOWN REPORT, UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE STARTER WAS FOUND TO BE BURNT THROUGHOUT. UNIT LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN HUNG START. THIS INCIDENT IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.