Suppression efforts for a fire that started in Dinosaur National Monument over the weekend are expected to continue throughout the week. Fire crews from the Monument along with several other agencies responded to the fire north of the Yampa Bench Road, about 2 miles west of Haystack Rock,
on Friday
. The fire is being called the Bench Fire and was among several fires ignited in the area after a storm moved over the eastern portion of the Monument
on Friday
. As of
Saturday
night, the Bench Fire had reached between 400 and 500 acres. Conditions are expected to be hot, windy and dry for the next several days, hindering suppression actions and requiring more resources and crews. Aircraft will be assisting with water drops. The Yampa Bench Road is expected to be closed for the next week between Thanksgiving Gorge and the Castle Park Overlook as suppression efforts continue.
