Why would someone jump out of an airplane due to a burning smell?

Dale wrote in news:me-05F443.10392020122004
@corp.supernews.com:

In article .com,
"569" wrote:


to the plane confirmed it. The alternator had seized, and the belt was
still attached. The black smoke and burning smell was the rubber from
the belt.

I have a friend who is a skydiver and pilot. He was going to make a
skydive from a 182 that was being flown with no door on it. Just after
takeoff they noticed a burning smell and lots of smoke coming from the
engine compartment. Thinking the airplane was on fire he jumped at
about 250-300 feet barely getting his parachute open. The airplane
landed just off the airport in a field, no damage or injuries. It was
the generator belt in this case also. G