SINGAPORE — Jurong-Clementi Town Council has been investigating why a hose reel at a Housing and Development Board flat in Bukit Batok failed to work two weeks ago when firefighters were trying to use it to put out a blaze. It will then take action after the investigation.

In an email response to TODAY’s queries on Wednesday (Nov 13), Mr Ho Thian Poh, the general manager of the town council, said that the 64 fire hose reels located at Block 210A Bukit Batok Street 21 had been checked by contractors last month.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) issued a warning to the town council after firefighters responding to a blaze at the 13th floor of the block were unable to use the fire hose reels at the location.

Mr Ho said that the 64 hose reels last underwent maintenance and testing by the appointed contractor on 14 Oct and were certified to be in working condition. “However, we accept the SCDF’s finding that the hose in question was not working on the day of the fire.

“We have been investigating why this was so, and will take appropriate actions once concluded.”

SCDF said that it has verified through its on-site inspections that the fire hose reels at the block are now accessible and in working order.

Last Saturday, it said in a statement to the media that several of the hose reel cabinets had been padlocked during the fire, which broke out in the wee hours of Nov 1. 

Even after firefighters broke one of the padlocks, they were still unable to use the fire hose reel because there was no water supply.

The fire was eventually extinguished with water from SCDF's emergency vehicles.

Three people were rescued from the fire and taken to the hospital for burn injuries and smoke inhalation.

The town council was later issued with Fire Hazard Abatement Notices, which serve as warnings to rectify the non-compliance. In this instance, it would mean ensuring that the hose reels are functioning and are not locked, SCDF said in the statement.