Hook Ladders

Firemen display the use of hook ladders on the practice tower of Bath City Fire Station.
My Father was in the brigade during the Second World War, and was retired after injuring himself with one of these ladders.
The idea was to smash a first floor window with the spike on the end, climb the ladder and sit astride the window ledge pulling the ladder up to the next window.

They used wooden ladders for a modern example see this