CALGARY – Andy Hill is living out a boyhood dream, after running out of other options. He spent 25 years working in the oilpatch, when, almost two years ago, his job disappeared.
Last August, he used the last of his savings for an unusual purchase and bright new business venture.
“My first question was, ‘are you crazy!? What are we going to do with a fire truck?’” his wife, Terri Hill, said.
Terri eventually came on board with the crazy idea – to buy a 1977 Scott fire truck.
“We’re meant for each other. I’m going to say that. We’re about the same age and both have the same creaks and rattles and both work pretty hard,” Andy Hill said of the new toy.
In place of the firefighting apparatus, Hill has retrofitted some removable cabinetry, displaying several Christmas lighting options.
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“During the winter time, I’ve got all the hoses off all the tanks empty and you can pretty much go anywhere,” Hill said.
He’s been working 20-hour days and has decorated dozens of homes and acreages since the new business, Springbank Christmas Lights, launched in September.
“It’s worked out great. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” his wife said. She handles lighting requests.
Hill has been so busy, he’s had to hire some help. He has about six people on staff and most of them have also been laid off from the oilpatch in the last year or two.
“If someone’s laid off and they’re a slow learner, trying to support a family – someone comes to me with that – I try to do my best to see what I can do to get them set up for Christmas,” Hill said.
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Hill has also cut families deals in tough times, including a near 20-metre-tall tree, which was one of his first projects.
“Her husband had always promised to dress this tree for a daughter and I could tell there was some emotion there,” Hill said. He didn’t know what happened to the father, but Hill says he found some cheaper product and donated some of his time. “I called her back and said, ‘I really want to do that tree for you’… That night she sent me a picture of her daughter looking out her window staring at this tree, and it was worth every penny.”
Now, both the fire truck and Hill have found a new purpose.
“You know I’ve always been one of those rough and tough oilfield guys, working international, then you do something like that… and yeah, it touches you pretty good.”
Hill is now able to spend more time around home with the kids, who also love testing out the new truck, including its fully-functioning sirens and speakers.
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