Hamper
From Thikipedia
To obstruct attempts to fix a bad situation.
When a Christmas hamper company went bust in the UK, several poor people lost money they had invested to pay for a hearty festive meal. The company failed because of a fire in their warehouse. Firemen were unable to reach the fire until it was too late, because they were hampered by the food-filled wicker baskets that were piled up to the ceiling.
The police searched the premises with a fine tooth comb and eventually found the cause of the blaze: A small fire.
