20111119025909I

Piedmont airlines flight 4237 was departing roa. The aircraft was DHC-8-311, N326EN. The aircraft was on take-off roll when crew received a smoke warning light in the aft bag bay compartment. Crew elected to abort take-off and taxi the aircraft off the active runway (24) as directed by tower. Upon securing the aircraft engines, the pilot in charge (PIC) informed the cabin to exit the aircraft. The flight attendant informed the passengers to calmly exit the aircraft through the main air-stairs door located at the front of the aircraft. This was confirmed by a company mechanic, seated in row 10A onboard the aircraft. During the evacuation process the mechanic observed the passenger seated in row 11A deploy the aircraft's ditching dam hatch (emergency exit door). The mechanic directed the passenger not to exit the aircraft through the ditching dam hatch and to proceed to the main air-stairs door as initially instructed. The mechanic then turned his attention to and assisted a lady (blind) with her service dog approximately two rows forward of him exit the aircraft. A few passengers in the rear of the aircraft began to panic and two passengers exited the aircraft through the open ditching dam hatch; one passenger apparently cut their finger (minor) on the aircraft. The remaining passenger safely exited the main air-stairs door within 60 seconds without incident. After all 50 passengers were accounted for and safely positioned away from the aircraft; ARFF boarded the aircraft and confirmed that there was not a fire onboard the aircraft. The passengers were transported back to the terminal and the aircraft was towed back to the ramp. No malfunctions with exit or associated components used during the event were reported.