Narrative:

Was flying VOR/DME1 runway 32 approach into a foreign airport. While turning onto final from teardrop maneuver had bagg smoke EICAS master warning and bagg smoke extn button light up. I was pilot flying and had my first officer perform memory items and emergency checklist. I notified tower of emergency and to roll fire trucks. I then called the flight attendant to advise her just in case evacuation needed after landing. As first officer finished with emergency checklist we were on short final and I told him not to pull out red book until we were stopped on the ground. Stopped quickly and turned off runway on taxiway alpha. First officer performed remaining checklist from red book. Fire trucks met us and coordinated actions with tower as they spoke spanish and we did not. Advised tower to relay our emergency and to be careful as the halon extinguishers had been used and the slow release one would still be active. They opened cargo bay slowly and checked compartment. Our emergency indications for the bag smoke did not extinguish until door had been open for 4-5 minutes. They relayed through ATC tower for us to continue to gate area and closed cargo door. At arrival to gate area fire department took their positions with hoses and once again opened cargo door. We had gpu hooked up so could shut off engine. Stairs were available and main door opened; but we were advised not to deplane until given ok from fire department. I tried to make a PA but neither my PA using hand mike nor forward flight attendant PA would work. My flight attendant was able to make PA's a little later and I checked mine again after all passengers deplaned and it worked fine. They removed bags one at a time and determined no fire existed. One of bags had a large stain and was emitting smoke. Fire personnel took bag to another location and opened. They determined; and I was notified; were from halon sprayed in bag dissipating into atmosphere and bag was returned to passenger.not sure what caused fire indication. But both EICAS message and bagg extn button stayed on for a long time after pushing bagg extn button. In fact; was on quite a while after cargo door opened. Did get EICAS master caution for bagg extn bottle inop and when checked cargo area after fire department deemed safe slow release halon bottle was still working.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: While on approach an EMB-140 flight crew had a BAGG SMOKE EICAS Master Warning and BAGG SMOKE EXTN Button illuminated; so they completed the Emergency Checklist; discharged the halon; declared an emergency and landed. The cause of the alarms was not determined.

Narrative: Was flying VOR/DME1 Runway 32 approach into a foreign airport. While turning onto final from teardrop maneuver had BAGG SMOKE EICAS Master Warning and BAGG SMOKE EXTN Button light up. I was pilot flying and had my First Officer perform memory items and Emergency Checklist. I notified Tower of emergency and to roll fire trucks. I then called the Flight Attendant to advise her just in case evacuation needed after landing. As First Officer finished with Emergency Checklist we were on short final and I told him not to pull out red book until we were stopped on the ground. Stopped quickly and turned off runway on Taxiway Alpha. First Officer performed remaining checklist from red book. Fire trucks met us and coordinated actions with Tower as they spoke Spanish and we did not. Advised Tower to relay our emergency and to be careful as the halon extinguishers had been used and the slow release one would still be active. They opened cargo bay slowly and checked compartment. Our emergency indications for the bag smoke did not extinguish until door had been open for 4-5 minutes. They relayed through ATC Tower for us to continue to gate area and closed cargo door. At arrival to gate area fire department took their positions with hoses and once again opened cargo door. We had GPU hooked up so could shut off engine. Stairs were available and main door opened; but we were advised not to deplane until given OK from fire department. I tried to make a PA but neither my PA using hand mike nor forward Flight Attendant PA would work. My Flight Attendant was able to make PA's a little later and I checked mine again after all passengers deplaned and it worked fine. They removed bags one at a time and determined no fire existed. One of bags had a large stain and was emitting smoke. Fire personnel took bag to another location and opened. They determined; and I was notified; were from halon sprayed in bag dissipating into atmosphere and bag was returned to passenger.Not sure what caused fire indication. But both EICAS message and BAGG EXTN Button stayed on for a long time after pushing BAGG EXTN Button. In fact; was on quite a while after cargo door opened. Did get EICAS Master Caution for Bagg Extn bottle inop and when checked cargo area after fire department deemed safe slow release halon bottle was still working.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.