THIS video shows the moment a courageous firefighter made repeated attempts to look inside the window of a burning building in Basingstoke.

The video was taken by a resident who witnessed the catastrophic apartment block fire in Oakridge Road on May 27, which destroyed or damaged the homes of 24 families.

Judith Bird, whose home was not affected by the fire, described the firefighters who tackled the blaze as “amazing” and "very brave". 

Read more: Oakridge residents demand answers over how fire in apartment block spread so quickly

Her video footage shows one firefighter climbing up a ladder on the side of the burning building, as blazing debris fell from the roof.

Plumes of smoke and fireballs can be seen surrounding the firefighter who was captured on camera climbing up and down the ladder several times, appearing to check inside one of the windows.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) fire investigation team concluded that the fire was accidental, likely to have been caused by an overheated cable from an electrical extension drum.

The fire service said it had “ruled out arson” and is no longer investigating, handing the incident over to the building owners.

However, those affected by the fire, and those who live in similar buildings nearby, are still waiting for answers as to how it spread so quickly.

See also: Campaigners raise 'serious safety issues' over fire as MP calls for full investigation

Residents told how the fire “spread within seconds” as families fled their homes.

Questions have also been raised by campaigners from End Our Cladding Scandal, who have written to Basingstoke MP Maria Miller raising concerns about how it spread so quickly and calling on the government to take action over low-rise apartment block fires.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller previously said: “I am taking these very serious allegations directly to the local fire authorities and housing association to ensure that residents have reassurance that a full investigation has taken place.”

Vivid, which owns much of the block, has declined to comment further.

Its chief operating officer, Jonathan Cowie, previously said: “The building has been fully assessed and undergone all compliance and safety checks which have been confirmed and certified.”