Federal, state and local officials are advising fire victims to be persistent about filing damage claims connected to the October fires. At a “Recovery and Rebuilding” Town Hall yesterday at the Sonoma Vets Building, a State Department of Insurance official urged people who were denied assistance for housing costs and other needs to contact his department for further help. Meanwhile, a FEMA official said the federal government has already paid out nearly 15-million dollars in assistance to fire victims in the region.