Pelham Court Fire 'A Total Loss' for Victims, Neighbor Says

Dave Watson said the Gibson family had put thousands of dollars into their "dream home" on Pelham Court, only to see it consumed by flames.

Janice Hurff said she stood outside with the family and watched their memories burn.

Both neighbors agreed that whatever had caused the single-family home to catch fire Friday evening, the devastation was shocking to behold.

Watson, a maintenance worker for UPS, said he was outside smoking a cigarette at about 10 p.m. when he saw "a tiny flame" in the attic of his neighbors' home.

Within 20 minutes, Watson said, the court was full of fire companies, and the home was engulfed in flames, "a total loss" for the family, in his view.

Watson said he believed that the homeowner tried to battle the flames himself with a small extinguisher, but was overpowered by smoke.

Hurff, a West Deptford Middle School teacher who lives next-door, said that the Gibsons are dear friends, and that she couldn't fathom the pain of their loss.

Everyone on the small court had offered to open their homes to their neighbors, she said, and would work to assist the family however they could.

"They're wonderful people and I just wish this had never happened," Hurff said.