What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 22, 2006, at 1618 EST, a republic airlines CRJ-170, N829MD, declared an emergency while on approach 12 miles south of syr, due to a lavatory fire. Fire and rescue trucks responded and prepared for a possible evacuation on the runway. On final, the captain informed ATC that the fire was out. One minute after stopping the aircraft, the fire was confirmed out and the plan was made to taxi to the gate. At the gate, fire officials boarded to confirm the fire was safely out and that the probable cause had been a lit cigarette in the lav trash. Police officials unsuccessfully attempted to determine who caused the fire. The aircraft was ferried out the following day. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The aircraft was not damaged and there were no injuries. The flight originated in Washington (national) airport, Washington, DC on March 22, 2006 at 1515 EST. This incident is considered closed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 22, 2006, AT 1618 EST, A REPUBLIC AIRLINES CRJ-170, N829MD, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WHILE ON APPROACH 12 MILES SOUTH OF SYR, DUE TO A LAVATORY FIRE. FIRE AND RESCUE TRUCKS RESPONDED AND PREPARED FOR A POSSIBLE EVACUATION ON THE RUNWAY. ON FINAL, THE CAPTAIN INFORMED ATC THAT THE FIRE WAS OUT. ONE MINUTE AFTER STOPPING THE AIRCRAFT, THE FIRE WAS CONFIRMED OUT AND THE PLAN WAS MADE TO TAXI TO THE GATE. AT THE GATE, FIRE OFFICIALS BOARDED TO CONFIRM THE FIRE WAS SAFELY OUT AND THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE HAD BEEN A LIT CIGARETTE IN THE LAV TRASH. POLICE OFFICIALS UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE WHO CAUSED THE FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FERRIED OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT DAMAGED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN WASHINGTON (NATIONAL) AIRPORT, WASHINGTON, DC ON MARCH 22, 2006 AT 1515 EST. THIS INCIDENT IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.