What immediate action is required in the event of a low water condition?

In the event of a low water condition in a boiler, the immediate action required is to secure fuel to the burner. This is crucial because operating a boiler with insufficient water can lead to overheating and potentially catastrophic failures, such as boiler explosions or damage to the heating surfaces. By stopping the fuel supply, the heating process is halted, which prevents further heat input to a boiler that does not have enough water to absorb it safely.

Adding more water, while it seems logical, is not the immediate step to take when a low water condition is detected because doing so without stopping the fuel can exacerbate the situation. Increasing steam pressure is inappropriate in a low water condition, as it can lead to further dangers, and cleaning the boiler, while important, is not an immediate response to a low water situation; it is a maintenance task that can be done during scheduled downtimes or inspections.