Why did firefighters switch to using hoses via the staircase?

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Firefighters Utilised Staircase Hoses Due to Dry Rising Main Malfunction

Firefighters resorted to running hoses directly up the staircase as a contingency measure because a faulty dry rising main led to a significant drop in water pressure. This malfunction prevented water from being effectively channelled to the eighth floor of Block 309 Clementi Avenue 4, where a fire was being battled. The switch to this alternative method is a standard procedure that emergency crews routinely train for.
Dry Rising Main Failure Impeded Water Supply

The dry rising main system at the residential block experienced a malfunction on July 31, the day of the fire. A preliminary assessment by Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council indicated that a dislodged coupling securing a section of the dry rising main was the cause of the pressure loss. This failure critically impacted the water supply needed for firefighting operations on higher floors.
Contingency Plan Activated for Firefighting

With the dry rising main compromised, firefighters initiated a pre-planned contingency procedure. This involved deploying hoses directly from the fire engine and manually carrying them up the building's staircase. Such alternative methods are part of the regular training regimen for SCDF personnel to ensure operational effectiveness even when primary systems fail.
Investigation Identifies Coupling as Source of Fault

Subsequent investigation by the town council pinpointed a dislodged coupling as the specific component failure within the dry rising main system. The town council has since undertaken repairs to the coupling. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conducted tests on August 2 to verify the repairs, with further checks scheduled for other blocks under the council's purview. The dry rising main had previously passed servicing and pressure tests on March 14, indicating the issue arose subsequently.

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Why did firefighters switch to using hoses via the staircase?

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