The cost of fighting the devastating Butte Fire has risen to $70.5 million as of this morning, Battalion Chief Jaime Moore and public information officer for the incident said in phone interviews today.

The blaze, which started Sept. 9 near Charamuga Ranch and Butte Mountain Road in Amador County, has destroyed 475 homes and 343 outbuildings, and damaged 45 other structures, according to assessment teams.

A disaster recovery center run by the California Office of Emergency Services and Federal Emergency Management Agency in partnership with county and local agencies is expected to open at noon today to help people impacted by the Butte Fire.

Representatives from the state, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other agencies will be available to explain assistance programs and help survivors register, federal officials said in an announcement.

Anyone who lost a home, a vehicle or other property in the Butte Fire is urged to register for assistance before going to the disaster recovery center by calling 800-621-3362 or

TTY 800-462-7585. Online registration is available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov and on smartphones at m.fema.gov.

Business owners and residents can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance center at 800-659-2955. Anyone with hearing disabilities can call 800-877-8339.

Regular hours at the Calaveras County disaster recovery center are expected to begin Tuesday. The center is set up at Calaveras County Government Center, 891 Mountain Ranch Road in San Andreas. Hours are expected to be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

According to FEMA, the Small Business Administration is the federal government’s “primary source of money for long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.”

Disaster loans cover losses that are not fully compensated by insurance or other sources, and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Timothy Scranton of FEMA said Friday the congressionally mandated limit on FEMA assistance per individual case is $32,900, Scranton said.

Michael Flores of the Small Business Administration said his agency can offer loans up to $200,000 to individual homeowners for rebuilding, up to $40,000 for renters, and up to $2 million for businesses.

For more information about disaster loans email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

The Butte Fire burn area was mapped at 110.7 square miles and it was estimated to be 95 percent contained as of this morning, according to Cal Fire. More than 1,300 personnel remained assigned to the incident.

Cal Fire plans to conduct a community meeting today in Mountain Ranch. Cal Fire personnel intend to address community needs and answer questions. The meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. at Mountain Ranch Community Clubhouse, 8049 Washington St.