SACO – A donation from a company that hopes to develop a racino in Biddeford will enable a family to finally clear fire rubble from their property and, it is hoped, rebuild.

Ocean Properties Ltd., which joined with Scarborough Downs on the racino project, has donated $5,000 to cover the cost of disposing of the charred remains of a house on Piney Woods Road.

The home, owned by Doris Loomer, was destroyed in a fire on Feb. 5 that may have been caused by a rare winter lightning storm. Loomer’s daughter Marcia Lee said the family could not afford $10,000 to remove and dump the debris, and nearly six months after the fire, city officials were threatening legal action.

State Rep. Don Pilon, D-Saco, said Friday that he learned of the family’s plight in a newspaper article and decided to help.

Contacting agencies in the area, Pilon was coming up with small donations that weren’t enough to cover the $5,000 dumping fee. In a final effort, he approached Ocean Properties’ founder, Tom Walsh.

“He said, ‘We’ll take care of it,’” Pilon said.

Richard Ade, executive vice president for Ocean Properties, said the company sees the donation as a way of giving back to the community.

“We’re trying to become part of the Biddeford and Saco community,” with efforts to build the racino, Ade said. “Hopefully, this donation will allow (the family) to get on with their life. … We’re glad to help.”

Kenny Blow of Blow Bros. will donate his services to remove the rubble, which he estimated would cost $5,000. Lee expects the debris to be removed next week.

“It’s totally wonderful and amazing,” Lee said. “(Walsh) is just helping out of the generosity of his heart because he heard that we were in such a bad place.”

Lee said she hopes to rebuild on the property and repay the generosity. She said she wants to start a local organization that could help others who find themselves in similar situations.

“This is what it’s supposed to be,” Lee said. “Community helping community.”

Staff Writer Emma Bouthillette can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:

ebouthillette@pressherald.com