BURNS -- The final occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge are still holding out for a miracle and taking all the prayers they can get.

FBI officials confirmed the armed occupation continued Tuesday, its 32nd day.

Jailed occupation leader Ammon Bundy issued another statement asking the four holdouts to "go home now so their lives are not taken."

He signaled what he wants to happen next: Have the FBI and Oregon State Police leave Harney County so the county sheriff can "cordon off the refuge" as local residents decide what to do with the land, he said.

Local leaders have responded in the past to similar demands by Bundy with silence or an oft-repeated request for him to abandon the standoff and return home.

In the meantime, the remaining occupiers are staying warm by gathering around a fire and eating hamburgers and vegetables.

After one day of silence, the holdouts spent hours Monday taking calls on an Internet radio show. Though they claimed most of their communication channels were cut off overnight Saturday, they were able to call into the show hosted by a conservative blog, Redoubt News.

The youngest protester, David Fry, 27, of Blanchester, Ohio, dominated the conversation. The others who remain encamped at the refuge headquarters are Sean Anderson, 48, and his wife, Sandy Anderson, 47, of Riggins, Idaho; and Jeff Banta, 46, of Elko, Nevada.

During Monday's online interview, Fry fielded questions for nearly three hours from callers and the show's hosts. He mentioned their dinner menu -- burgers and vegetables -- in response to a question about how they kept warm. Temperatures dropped overnight to the single digits.

He repeatedly spoke of miracles, saying they occurred when people put their lives on the line. That's exactly what he and the other occupiers are doing, he said.

He also conceded, at least twice, that they were breaking the law. "Sometimes it's right to break a law. This is the time to break a law," Fry said.

At one point, Fry's parents called in. He told them he loved them and that "everybody here are trying their hardest to make a change."

The conversation fell silent for a few seconds, then his father spoke.

"Well, I'm proud of you son."

Fry said he was glad to hear it. "Maybe this will be the last time we get to talk, but I'm glad that you guys said that."

Fry also shed new light on the circumstances that led to their continued occupation. The standoff began Jan. 2 as a protest of the imprisonment of two local ranchers and attracted people from throughout the U.S.

He said Banta and the Andersons were on "post duty" when the group received word that many of its leaders, including Ammon Bundy, had been arrested Jan. 26. Robert "LaVoy" Finicum was shot and killed during the confrontation.

Fry said that as other occupiers left the refuge headquarters, he was filming the events. Before long, only a few occupiers remained. "This is how the four came to be," he said.

Despite Bundy's repeated requests for them to leave, they have insisted on receiving immunity. Bundy's father, Cliven, signaled that he wanted them to stay. The Nevada rancher sent a letter Monday to Harney County officials giving notice that "We the People" would retain possession of the refuge headquarters. Cliven Bundy led a standoff at his ranch over grazing fees in 2014.

In the statement released by his lawyers, Ammon Bundy said he has been in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day and hasn't had a chance to talk to his father.

Among many in Burns, the occupiers' welcome has worn thin. County officials estimated 285 people convened for a courthouse protest Monday to encourage the occupiers and their supporters to leave. Another protest of an estimated 205 people gathered across the street to decry the death of Finicum and support the occupation leaders. The demonstrations stretched over four hours.

Many signs in support of county officials remained staked in the snow in front of the courthouse Tuesday.

Fry's interview occurred during the protests, and the radio show displayed live video of the demonstrations as Fry spoke.

"This was America's ideal protest in a time of need," Fry said, "and America hasn't really recognized that, and is still kind of sitting on their butts."

-- Molly Young

myoung@oregonian.com

503-412-7056

@mollykyoung