What would be fairly low key in a ground installation was probably 
"rather more exciting" in space:

Not quite "Houston, we have a problem ..." but ...

    "Russian Commander Pavel Vinogradov, US astronaut Jeffrey Williams 
and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter noticed the problem 
when they smelled burning rubber and saw some smoke. They put on 
protective masks, goggles and gloves and activated an alarm to begin 
emergency procedures to isolate the ventilation system.

Ground controllers believe a rubber gasket on the generator 
overheated, producing the smoke and odour.


        http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn10104

They call it an "oxygen generator"
Picture:

        http://www.newscientistspace.com/data/images/ns/cms/dn10104/dn10104-2_600.jpg

Potassium Hydroxide spillage suggests it's a CO2 scrubber.



        RM

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