Presumably not on purpose, and I suppose it's better to let it burn outside than inside, as his and my houses have one wall in common.

I was working with the computer and heard a couple of faint pops. Shortly thereafter I felt something like the smell of burning electronics, but only faintly. I shut off the computer and turned off the power to it and my radio/CD/preamp &tc. But it didn't smell more close to the electronics rather closer to the door, so I opened it to see what was going on.

And instantly the room was filled with acrid smoke from the television burning. The neighbour couldn't put out the fire, as he just sprinkled a little water on it. I went to the next neighbour in line and asked if they didn't have anything better and luckily they had a small powder extinguisher.

As my house was full of smoke, I opened all windows on the other side, as well as the doors, but it didn't clean out the smoke, so I told my ferrets to get out the door on the lawn, something they somewhat reluctantly did.
Then, I collected them all in my arms and went around the house to see what was going on. By this time they were agitated and started slipping from me, but I didn't loose anyone.

I returned them home, and put them in the transport cage and put it upwind from the television, which although not burning was smoking and smelling a whole lot, which wasn't clear to me (or the man at the fire brigade I called) wasn't harmless.

Leaving them outdoors, way off, in the darkness, alone, while I cleaned the house of soot and tried to get the smoke smell out didn't appeal to me. I didn't have to call my parents, instead we walked over to my brother who lives a couple of houses away, where they could stay in the transport cage for an hour or so, while I did what I had to.

PS
Now I've got a fire extinguisher too. Only problem the ferrets can't handle it.