With lightning and tornadoes; Bonita Complex 75 percent contained

VALE, Ore. — Fire officials say they have returned to fighting the Bonita Complex Fire in Malheur County after a lightning knocked out communications on the fire Saturday.

The Bonita Complex fire, covering about 28-square miles in eastern Oregon, is 75 percent contained as of Sunday morning. It's the third-largest wildfire in the state.

Fire spokeswoman Alexis West says tornadoes and dust devils were also seen in the area late Saturday afternoon, but there were no injuries.

Even though two structures have been destroyed, many homes threatened by the Miller Homestead fire have been protected. The 250-square-mile fire was reported to be 40 percent contained Sunday afternoon. Fire officials said that Highway 205 has reopened, and the community of Frenchglen is still open for business, in spite of its proximity to the fire.

Meanwhile, fire officials reported Sunday morning that the 937-square-mile Long Draw fire is 80 percent contained. The Long Draw fire is the state's largest wildfire in more than a century.

Winds have pushed that fire south and east through the parched grass and sagebrush. Firefighters worked Saturday to hold the flames to the west side of Owyhee Canyon.

"It's hot and dry, and the canyon has its own breezes and winds, so that makes it tricky," said Trish Hogervorst, spokeswoman for the fire management team.

Crews hoped to prevent the fire from jumping the Owyhee River. A spot fire broke out Friday night, but firefighters quickly controlled it.

Hogervorst said the roughly 400 firefighters battling the fire made more progress than expected Friday, thanks to less wind, cooler temperatures and higher humidity. The weather wasn't quite as helpful Saturday, and there was a threat of a thunderstorm.

"If we can hold the line and have no major events by (Sunday), hopefully we'll start feeling a little more confident," she said.

The fire has killed cattle, burned range buildings and scorched the grass needed to feed animals.

"People say it's just grass and ranchers and cattle that are ruined," Rosemary Stoddart told the Oregonian newspaper. "But it's ruined the whole habitat. There's nothing left alive in the burned areas. Not even any bugs."

Bob Skinner, a fifth-generation rancher from Jordan Valley, called it "the biggest expanse of solid black that I have ever seen. It's pretty darned sad."

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has asked the White House for assistance. In a letter to President Barack Obama, Wyden said Oregon does not have enough crews and equipment because firefighters had been dispatched to other wildfires in the West.

"While efforts are under way to bring crews back to Oregon, I want to make sure you are aware of the urgency of the situation and the need for national resources to fight this fire," he wrote.

The Bonita Complex fire, Oregon's only other major wildfire, has burned close to 20,000 acres in an area near Westfall, which is well north of the other major fires. It was 50 percent contained, but a major storm on a section of that blaze disrupted firefighting efforts.

Alexis West, a spokeswoman for the fire management team, said lightning knocked out radio communications, so crews were pulled from the fire until repairs are done. She said tornadoes were also seen, but there were no injuries.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.