Burn baby Burn!

Tom some dismay my ceiling fan went on fire. Surprisingly uneventful - everyone gotten out without a scratch. I guess beware of your appliances, have them spayed and neutered? Or just simply have a fire extinguisher on hand at all times. I am only now left wondering why burned wire smells a lot like old fish, recycling contents? Input suggested.
In case you were wondering this is what the inside of an electrical fire looks like (click me):