Watch: Boston Crews Battle High-Winds During 3-Alarm Fire

High winds and hoarding conditions hampered Boston firefighters as they battled a three-alarm blaze in a three-story brick building in the city’s Mattapan neighborhood. 

High winds made things difficult, as did hoarding conditions in the third-floor apartment where fire crews believe the fire started.

Boston Fire Deputy Chief Michael Hawking told WCBV5 that firefighters were delayed in entering the third-floor apartment where fire crews believe the fire started because there was a couch behind the door. “They were trying to push, that caused a little delay. Just typical room filled with a lot of junk, bicycles and things like that,” Hawking said.

Many of the Haitian Americans who lived in the building are now without a home.

Boston Fire officials said one resident was taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation. Thirteen units were affected by the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.