A High Court jury has been shown footage of Loafers Lodge residents discovering and escaping from the fire

A 50-year-old man's pleaded not guilty to the murder of five people, and two arson charges, over the 2023 Wellington hostel blaze.

Herald reporter Melissa Nightingale says CCTV footage showed a resident in the kitchen, before the communal areas begin to fill with smoke.

She says it showed he and another resident realising smoke was filling the hallway, and banging on doors yelling at people to get out.

This week was the first of five, and saw multiple residents and fire crew relay their experiences.