Firefighter Greggory Boydston shows what it's really like risking everything to battle America's deadly wildfires The job of a firefighter typically conjures up images charred remains, scorched earth and blackened ashes. But one firefighter has captured a completely different side to the role - by capturing what life is like behind the scenes as a 'hotshot' firefighter. Greggory Boydston is a hotshot firefighter for the United States Forest Service, meaning he is a highly-trained specialist on how to contain and extinguish blazes in the wild. A 'hotshot' is a firefighter who specializes in containing forest fires - but while tackling the blazes, Gregg Boydston captures what life is like for the crew Gregg is part of a 20-person crew that is available to travel all over the nation containing the fierce fires that threaten to ravage the countryside A typical day for the hotshots lasts 16 hours, and a typical dispatch 14 days - giving Boydston plenty of opportunity to take the stunning photos with his iPhone A hard day's work: Hotshots have to pass strenuous tests. One involves the 'pack test' - which means carrying a 45lbs pack for 3 miles in 45 minutes or less But while he's battling out of control blazes across the country with the rest of his elite team, he also takes the opportunity to snap the destruction of the fire - and his colleagues' attempts to tackle it. Around three years ago the 25-year-old left his job with Apple Computers after realising he no longer wanted to work inside. So he began a new career path after signing up for a fire science course, he explained on his blog. Now his regular work day involves a far more vigorous routine. He and his fellow crew members cut fire lines, burn backfires, and mop up hot ash piles smoldering in the undergrowth, NPR reported. Hotshots have to pass strenuous tests. One involves the 'pack test' - which means carrying a 45lbs pack for 3 miles in 45 minutes or less. Successful candidates have to be able to complete a 1.5 mile run in 11minutes or less, do 40 situps in 60 seconds, and complete 25 pushups in 60 seconds. The 25-year-old also gives a running commentary on his and his fellow crew members' tasks, giving followers an insight into how the team put out the fires Along with his photos, he reveals all of the dangers, delights and daring adventures that go hand-in-hand with such a role, that takes him across the country In these photos he explained: 'As a 'just incase' (sic) type of deal we had the Sky Crane drop some retardant to make an attempt at stopping the fire if the controlled burn got a bit wild' The heatwave has sparked a slew of fires that raged across the countryside in recent weeks, making the hotshot's work even more valuable than usual A typical day lasts 16 hours, and a typical dispatch 14 days - giving Boydston plenty of opportunity to take the stunning photos with his iPhone. And his stunning photographs have attracted more than 14,000 followers on his Instagram account who, understandably enjoy the photos, but perhaps would not want to get too close to them in real life. His account also gives a revealing insight into what it's like to be one of the best of the best firefighters - and all of the dangers, delights and daring adventures that go hand-in-hand with such a role. He wrote: 'One of the best parts about my job is the traveling and sleeping under the stars. It's hard to top the feeling of taking off your boots as you lay down on your therma-rest ready to decompress from your day.' He also explains techniques that the crew use to prevent fires spreading across the land - protecting land, wildlife and homes which would normally be threatened by the ravaging fires. In one picture showing a crew member setting fire to part of a forest, he explained: 'This is my buddy Alejandro lighting off a back burn to help stop the fire from crossing the road and heading up the next ridge. Gregg and his fellow crew members daily routine involves cutting fire lines, burning backfires, and mopping up hot ash piles smouldering in the undergrowth The former Apple worker decided he no longer wanted to work outside, and embarked on a career that took him outdoors and into the wild The 25-year-old says that one of the best parts about his job is the traveling and sleeping under the stars - making him the envy of his Instagram followers Boydston began a new career path after signing up for a fire science course and passing demanding physical examinations By burning back to the fires edge it will have nothing else to burn when they meet and essentially put itself out. When we do these burns we prep and do it to where the trees don't torch and damage the forest. Ever heard the term "fight fire with fire?" He also gives a running commentary, about his job, describing one particularly trying fire. He told his thousands of followers: 'As smoke hindered my breathing and sweat entered my eyes, I pulled my iPhone from my left chest pocket to make an attempt at capturing the fire making a push towards the line. 'The humidity was so high, my thumb couldn't slide the camera open due to the moisture on the outside of my Lifeproof case. The wall of fire kept pushing and rising to the top of the douglas furs and headed our way. It was time to stash the phone and move. The heat seemed to dry the sweat off the back of my neck as I scooted up the dozer line. A couple helicopter bucket drops later and some winds calming down, I cleared the sweat from the phone lens and took this photo. The trained firefighter wanted to document his travels and adventures through photography and video - showing people what it's like to be on the frontline of firefighting The firefighter said one of these bulldozers can push over trees as if they were fragile matchsticks, while showing techniques of how they keep fires at bay Not your average nine to five! The firefighter now has the great outdoors as his office, and takes pleasure in protecting it The work of the hotshots has proved invaluable to America this summer. The heatwave has sparked a slew of fires that raged across the countryside in recent weeks. In California, over 600 firefighters battled a fire that raged 70 miles east of Los Angeles a week ago. It had grown to over 12 square miles in less than 24 hours. And hundreds were evacuated from their homes on July 9 as deadly mountain wildfires raged through parched woodland in northern and southern Nevada. A 24-square-mile blaze forced more than 500 people out of homes in Mount Charleston some 25 miles northwest of Las Vegas while other fires broke out near Reno and Kearn. More than 750 firefighters, including 18 elite Hotshot crews, fought the raging wildfire fire, named Carpenter 1, which was sparked by lightning striking dried woodland a week earlier.