Darin PrincipeDarin Principe Documentary Photographer

Yakima

Zucchini Harvest

Yakima Valley Drought

Last Freeze Yakima, 2015

Peach Tree Pruning

Migrant women pruning flower buds from peach tree.

Yakima Winter

Wiley City Rodeo

Yakima May Day March

Northwest Wildfires

The Okanogan Complex fire is one of the largest fires in Washington state history but was not the only one burning in the area. Hundreds of thousands of acres have burned costing millions of dollars to fight. The Chelan Complex fire, which is now merged and being managed with the Okanogan Complex, had com close to the resort town of Chelan and caused heavy damage to the Chelan Fruit Co-op and many residences.

Nearby the North Star fire has burned more than 200,000 acres mainly on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

Unfortunately the fires have also had a human toll. The Twisp River fire claimed the lives of three wildfire fighters working with the U.S. Forest Service from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Wildfire fighters from all over the region have been activated and are in the area working to combat the fires.

Interagency Hotshot crew from Vale, Oregon headed out to the fire perimeter of the Okanogan Complex fire near Conconully State Park, WA.

Burnt evidence of where a home once stood before the wildfires this summer in Washington. All that remains is the shell of an RV, a basket ball hoop and part of the chimney.

Wildfire passed through cemetery at St. Mary's Mission at the Colville Indian Reservation near the Okanogan Complex and North Star fires in North Central Washington.

Charred remains of what appears to be a small deer from the Okanogan complex fires.

Wildfire fighter Byron Florence is part of a DNR crew from the Olympic Peninsula. One of the many things to be on the lookout according to Byron are bears and cougars.

Wildfire fighter Myles Huling is part of a DNR crew from the Olympic Peninsula.

Wildfire fighter Jan Novalta is part of the DNR crew from the Olympic Peninsula.

Myles, Byron and Jan all part of the DNR crew from the Olympic Peninsula head out to begin their hike up the mountain in search of possible fire activity.

A "Thank You" sign for the firefighters on the Colville Indian Reservation, WA. The North Star Fires burn nearby.

The morning sun fights to burn throught the smoke and haze near Omak, WA.

Wildlife is already returning like this soot covered deer that blends in with some of the charred surroundings.

The Okanogan and Chelan complex fires have combined operations and the incident base is being run out of the Okanogan Fairgrounds which is like a mini city with firefighters and all the support necessary for running the operation.

Collection point at the Okanogan Complex fires Incident base for donations from the community.

Nick Mickel, who is one of the Public Information Officers at the Okanogan Complex Fire Incident Base, indicates on the map parts of the perimeter, indicated in red, that are still uncontrolled. The fire was sixty percent controlled at the time of the picture.

A tent city at the Okanogan fairgrounds which has served as the Incident Base for the Okanogan complex fires where the firefighters return to eat and sleep after long shifts in the forests. the Chelan Complex fire management has now merged with this base.

From left to right Chris Berryhill, Cameron Reiter and William Green all sharpen their fire tools. Even during limited downtime they are still working to prepare themselves to better combat the fires.

Chris and William are from the Ruidoso Fire & Rescue Department in New Mexico. Cameron is with the Aurora Fire Department in Colorado.

Chris Berryhill with the Ruidoso, New Mexico Fire & Rescue Department sharpens a fire tool.

William Green, a wildfire fighter, is an EMT back home with Ruidoso, Fire & Rescue in New Mexico.

Cameron Reiter who is with the Aurora, CO Fire Department sharpens his axe.

Chris Berryhill is with the Ruidoso Fire & Rescue in New Mexico.

William Green and Chris Berryhill of the Ruidoso Fire & Rescue in New Mexico. They flew up to replace another crew from their department and will be driving their truck back at the end of their tour.

Half burnt sign marking the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in Okanogan county, WA which was originally created to help with the recovery of the sharp-tailed grouse.

One of many homes destroyed by Chelan Complex fires in Washington.

Chelan fruit company was heavily damaged in the Chelan Complex fires in Washington.

Massive fire damage to the Chelan fruit growers refrigeration facilities due to the Chelan Complex fires in Washington.

Home destroyed by Chelan Complex fires in Washington.

Smokey the Bear stands in front of the burnt out landscape near Omak.

Fire crew heads back to the Incident base camp after a shift of duty on the Okanogan complex fire. According to Nick Mickel, public information officer, shifts are ideally 12-14 hours a day but can go longer when necessary.