> "The [refrigerant] doesn't have a strong odour or flavour so the fact they could smell it, taste it, suggests there's something else that's been released," Professor Anderson said.
Burning electronics does have a strong, distinct odor. If they are unfamiliar with that, its totally plausible that's all that they smelled.
Refrigerators are a few PCBs, a heat pump, a closed loop refrigerant, and a cooler. There really isn't anything especially exotic there.
> "The [refrigerant] doesn't have a strong odour or flavour so the fact they could smell it, taste it, suggests there's something else that's been released," Professor Anderson said.