SINGAPORE, July 31 -- An underground pipe leak may have caused the dry rising main at Block 229 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 to malfunction during a fire on July 29, the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council said.

The Straits Times reported that firefighters had encountered issues with the dry riser, which did not work properly during the fire that broke out around 1pm and engulfed a 10th floor flat, spreading to the unit above.

In a statement today, the town council said it conducted a joint inspection of the dry riser with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

"In our discussion with SCDF, the probable reason for the failure of the dry riser could be due to an underground pipe leak," it said.

The specific dry riser was last tested on August 28, 2...