Lights on, lights off

I was doing prowling duty with another guy in this military base (not gonna reveal it), carrying one 10,000 candlelight strong search light to use if needed. Upon reaching a flight of stairs down to an abandoned building, I switched on the search light and it was in working order. Went down the stairs a few steps, the search light totally goes off while it was still on. And a thick strong stench of rotting mango surrounded us. Trust my instinct and quickly go back up and out of there. Immediately after a few meters away from the stairs, the search light immediately resumed to working order and the smell was gone. Heard from old timers that building was used for torturing and burning POWs. I am unable to verify the truth..