A malfunctioning dry rising main hindered firefighting efforts during a blaze at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Clementi on July 31, Singapore’s Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said. The faulty equipment led to reduced water pressure, limiting the flow of water to the affected floor and complicating operations.

The fire broke out at around 11:10 p.m. in a flat on the eighth floor of Block 309 Clementi Avenue 4. The occupant was found unconscious and later died at the hospital. Two firefighters sustained burn injuries and required hospitalization. SCDF reported that one firefighter has since been discharged and is recuperating at home, while the other remains under care following a medical procedure, according to a statement from Member of Parliament Sim Ann, who visited the injured firefighter.

Dry rising mains are vertical pipes within buildings that channels water from fire engines during firefighting. The SCDF said that when firefighters encountered reduced water pressure from the dry rising main, they quickly adapted by connecting hoses directly from the fire engine to the fire floor via the staircase to continue suppression efforts. The blaze was eventually extinguished using two water jets.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council, responsible for maintenance of the building’s firefighting infrastructure, indicated in a statement that an initial assessment found a coupling securing a section of the dry rising main became dislodged during firefighting operations, leading to the pressure drop. The coupling has since been repaired.

The town council noted that the dry rising main at the block was last serviced and pressure tested on March 14 and found to be in working order. Their maintenance regime includes servicing every six months and annual pressure testing. Additional checks will be conducted on dry rising main systems across other blocks managed by the town council as a precaution.

Following the incident, approximately 40 residents from the block were evacuated as a safety measure. The town council expressed its commitment to cooperating fully with SCDF’s investigation and pledged transparency and accountability. It also conveyed condolences to the family of the deceased resident and extended wishes for a swift recovery to the injured firefighters.

Member of Parliament Sim Ann, who serves as Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, reiterated support for the town council’s commitment to strengthening maintenance and testing protocols for firefighting equipment. The town council has pledged to work closely with all relevant parties to identify improvements to existing regimes for dry rising main and hose reel systems to prevent future occurrences.