By LAURIE JOHNSON

Carol Channing had it all wrong.

Firemen, not diamonds, are a girl’s best friend, according to Erin Blackman of Johnston, who’s currently filming a documentary on firefighters.

“The general public is not aware of all they do,” said Blackman, “so I picked up a video camera to prove it.”

The working title of Blackman’s project is “Everyday Heroes: A Walk Into the Fire.”

She started filming last November and hopes to complete the 60-minute tribute by early this winter. Blackman’s friend, Fran Paliotta of Fran Paliotta Photography in Johnston, is helping in the effort by offering cutting-edge still shots of Blackman’s subjects.

“It’s strictly a labor of love; I’m not getting paid for it,” said Blackman, who at age 36 wistfully recalls her dream of becoming a firefighter. Injuries from a car accident at age 16 forced her to look in other directions. She finds it ironic that her grandfather, Edward Conway, was forced to retire after 20 years on the Providence Fire Department when he fell off the back of a fire truck and injured his back in 1951.

The lion’s share of Blackman’s work to date has been done with the Providence Fire Department. Blackman totes a camera on ride-alongs onboard engines and rescue trucks. She signs a waiver each time, renouncing all rights to sue in case of an injury. The fire and rescue runs Blackman has documented have been fairly routine ones. She plans other ride-alongs including one with a ladder company. There will also be stints at the fire dispatch desk and with fire-prevention officers, who investigate the cause of a blaze.

Blackman said she treasures her time spent with Providence’s Engine Company 8, housed on Messer Street, whose members went out of their way to make her feel like one of them, she says. She learned that when firefighters assess a scene, it goes far beyond the rescue call.

“These firemen really know their neighborhood,” said Blackman enthusiastically.

During her ride-along, the firefighters would point out landmarks around a fire scene plus name the kids watching near the trucks while the firemen worked. There was even an elderly woman who brought the firemen cookies.

Another of Blackman’s experiences came courtesy of the Johnston Fire Department. The controlled burn of a house on Peck Hill Road earlier this year made for some very fiery scenes for Blackman’s documentary.

Johnston firefighter Paul Brazenor recalls Blackman’s enthusiasm that day.

“She caught a nice little blast of heat when one of the walls of the house came down,” he said.

Blackman filmed as firefighters set up a water curtain to protect nearby houses and woods.

Brazenor, 36, is a school chum of Blackman’s. Both attended the Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School in Johnston. When the opportunity came along, Brazenor, who still lives in Johnston, was only too glad to let Blackman do some filming. He wishes there were more people like Erin who understood the pressures that firefighters face.

“Yes, we do feel unappreciated, especially in light of what town councilors have been saying about us,” said Brazenor, referencing recent news reports about the department’s expensive overtime budget.

“Because of overtime, we do have some guys making over a $100,000 a year,” he said. “Sure it’s good money, but people forget we are working [extra] to earn it and that means time away from our families.”

“Just because we have beds at the firehouse doesn’t mean we sleep at night. The calls can and do come anytime,” Brazenor added.

“The sheer exhaustion your body deals with is incredible,” Blackman said with a sigh, talking about one-on-one interviews with individual firefighters – scenes she refers to as intense.

She marvels as subject after subject responds with the perfunctory, “it’s my job,” when asked how they have the courage to enter a burning building.

“I don’t think we are heroes,” said Brazenor stiffly, but then with warm pride noted the accomplishments of his late uncle, Cpt. Robert Tessier, who retired from the Providence Fire Department after a 20-year career.

“You know, it isn’t always fire that turns out to be the most dangerous part of the job,” said Blackman. “There’s stress and exposure to chemicals. On the rescue trucks, there’s the constant worry about needle sticks, airborne diseases and TB.”

That’s why Brazenor, who’s in his 12th year fighting fires in Johnston, calls it a slap in the face for firefighters to have to pay for health insurance

“The fact is we risk our lives every day on the job,” he said.

Blackman, a longtime firefighting advocate, hopes her work will lead to more respect for firefighters and better working conditions for them so, in her own words, “these insane lack-of-contract issues will stop.”

Channel 36 has already offered to work with Blackman to bring her project to fruition.