Federal help is available for businesses hurt by fires in the tiny mountain town of Spruce Pine North Carolina. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved Governor Easley’s request to declare the Mitchell County town a disaster area after a fire burned several downtown buildings. The declaration means businesses can apply for low interest loans to help pay operating expenses while their businesses are rebuilt. The loans are available for businesses determined to have no other credit available. The governor’s office says more than 50 businesses were affected by the back-to-back fires in early August. Spruce Pine is a town of about 2,000 residents.