2. Something Smells Fishy. Unless it is fish, this strange smell is probably emanating from a burning electrical component. Electrical shielding, wires, and other plastic components emit a “fish” or “urine” smell when exposed to high heat.Click to see full answer. Herein, what do electrical fires smell like?An electrical fire initially has a fairly acrid smell of plastic burning. The short could be in the outlet or in the wiring inside a wall and can be hard to locate. Experts say if you smell something electrical burning you are lucky – most warning signs of electrical fires are invisible and odourless.One may also ask, is electrical burning smell toxic? Burning/Electrical Odors Made with a variety of metals and chemicals, prolonged exposure to these fumes is not healthy. The first few times the unit kicks on, it may emit a burning odor that can smell electrical and dusty, give it 20 to 30 minutes and see if the smell dissipates. In respect to this, why does my light smell like fish? The fishy smell usually associated with something going wrong, badly wrong. The scent comes from hot components, most often from the printed circuit board inside the device itself. The pungent smell is a sure sign that something has just failed or is about to.What can smell like fish?Trimethylaminuria, better known as fish odor syndrome, is a rare disorder that causes a person’s bodily emissions to smell like fish. The odor can arise from the saliva, sweat, or urine. A person emitting a fishy odor that persists, in spite of good hygiene, should see a doctor.