This is the dramatic moment frustrated neighbours pressed a fireman to save their engulfed houses despite damage-control efforts.

Residents pushed the volunteer firefighter to extinguish the burning homes as the officer focused on dousing unaffected buildings to contain the blaze at Aroma Barangay 105 in Manila, the Philippines.

Footage captured by Nicko Chavez shows a group of men grabbing the firefighter's suit and forcefully directing the water flow onto the flaming residential structure on August 5.

In densely packed squatter areas, the best option is often to stop the fire from spreading further.

Some locals condemned the men's actions, saying the firefighter could only carry out damage control, as the blaze had already consumed the houses.

Meanwhile, others sympathised with the residents, saying they only acted on instinct, trying to save what they could.

Fire experts explained that once a house is fully engulfed, it is almost impossible to save, as the extreme heat quickly destroys the structure. Firefighters instead focus on spraying nearby buildings to stop the flames from spreading further.