They were probably so aghast and confused by the king's urgent order that the military had to be called in to carry out his angry and unreasonable demand. Not even the ashes of a human body would be left in a furnace that hot. Evidently, the king had his eyes opened and suspects that these are not normal people he has just thrown into the fiery blaze. Time must have seemed to stand still for the king. So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them.
Clothing carries the smell of smoke very clearly for quite some time.
For instance, after a barbeque, campfire, or just sitting next to someone smoking a cigarette, the aroma of smoke imprints itself on those close by. What a miracle of God's protection on these men's lives. The testimony to the king was obvious. Sufficent God prepared the Israelites for this day. Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave a word for His people to cling to.