Which of the following is an indicator of an incendiary fire that may not be related to combustion?

An indicator of an incendiary fire that may not be related to combustion is the presence of fires near service equipment and appliances. This is significant because such locations often present opportunities for intentional ignition due to the proximity to flammable materials or conditions created by malfunctioning equipment. Investigators look for patterns in fire locations that suggest deliberate placement, and areas near service equipment raise suspicion about whether the fire was ignited purposefully.

Fires close to appliances may suggest that something was intentionally done to create a fire hazard since normal operation would not typically result in fires if the equipment were functional and used properly. This contrasts with other options, which typically do not indicate the root cause of the fire itself. For example, the presence of fire alarms indicates a safety measure rather than a cause, while clear view areas and unblocked entries pertain more to accessibility and visibility rather than to incendiary implications.