I realise the risks with sprinklers and the very high cost of their
instalations - but surely a simple dry riser to a few strategic jets - fed
by water from the fire brigade could be a fast response solution where high
reach appliances take a long time to be deployed and may not be high
enough.

Imagine a pipe on the roof to act as a big sprinkler - early deployment
would have killed the fire. Cost - some pipes.