B777 flight crew reported engine fire during engine restart after departure ground stop was lifted.

Attributes
ACN	1652099
Time
Date	201906
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer Relief Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

ZZZ was experiencing departure delays due to weather in the area. We pushed back on time and did a lap around the airport for xxl and ended up holding due to extensive delays. We shut down the right engine for fuel considerations. We eventually ended up on taxiway for a xr departure and was informed east departures were again stopped. We elected to then start APU and shut down the left engine. After approximately 10 minutes ATC advised us to start up. We again accomplished the before start and takeoff checklists. Both engines were started simultaneously. The aircraft behind us informed us we were on fire and torching from our left engine confirmed by ground. There were no abnormal indications displayed during startup. We shut down the left engine and asked ground to roll the fire trucks. The emergency equipment arrived quickly and reported no fire or smoke at that time. Left tailpipe fire checklist was accomplished and we taxied back to [the] gate with the fire equipment following us. The fire department did another inspection before the jetway was brought up to the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777 flight crew reported engine fire during engine restart after departure ground stop was lifted.

Narrative: ZZZ was experiencing departure delays due to weather in the area. We pushed back on time and did a lap around the airport for XXL and ended up holding due to extensive delays. We shut down the right engine for fuel considerations. We eventually ended up on taxiway for a XR departure and was informed east departures were again stopped. We elected to then start APU and shut down the left engine. After approximately 10 minutes ATC advised us to start up. We again accomplished the before start and takeoff checklists. Both engines were started simultaneously. The aircraft behind us informed us we were on fire and torching from our left engine confirmed by Ground. There were no abnormal indications displayed during startup. We shut down the left engine and asked ground to roll the fire trucks. The emergency equipment arrived quickly and reported no fire or smoke at that time. Left tailpipe fire checklist was accomplished and we taxied back to [the] gate with the fire equipment following us. The fire department did another inspection before the jetway was brought up to the aircraft.

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.