Second Alarm Scholarship Benefit supports Sable Flames' scholarship efforts

Hundreds of Madison-area residents are expected to attend the 28th annual Second Alarm Scholarship Benefit on Saturday, Feb. 18 at The Tributary Hub to raise money for the Jones-Robinson Scholarship and support community networking and programs.

Hundreds of Madison-area community members will join the Sable Flames, an organization of the Madison Fire Department's African-American firefighters, at the 28th annual Second Alarm Scholarship Benefit on Saturday, Feb. 18 at The Tributary Hub on Madison's East Side. The event raises money for the Jones-Robinson Scholarship and includes dancing, music and opportunities for networking. The Sable Flames say their mission is to provide support, knowledge and leadership to members of the fire service and to emphasize hiring, recruiting, promoting and retaining African Americans and other persons of color. The scholarship fund was created after the 1990 Sommerset Circle fire to honor five children who died in that tragedy, and the benefit grew from an effort begun in 1992 to raise more sustained support. Event details: - Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m., The Tributary Hub on Madison's East Side. - Purpose: Fundraising for the Jones-Robinson Scholarship, created in memory of the five children who perished in the 1990 Sommerset Circle fire. - Organizers and history: The Sable Flames host the benefit; organizer Robert Hansbro, a longtime Madison firefighter who retired in 2022 after nearly 43 years, helped start the event in 1992. - Program elements: The evening will include a band from Milwaukee, a DJ from Rockford, dancing and community speakers about careers such as plumbing, hospitality and funeral services. - Venue note: The benefit has been held at the Edgewater Hotel in past years and will take place this year at The Tributary Hub, a former Menard's location on the East Side. Summary: The Second Alarm Scholarship Benefit is both a fundraiser and a longstanding community event that connects people around scholarships and career information. The event is scheduled for Feb. 18 at The Tributary Hub, and organizers say they hope younger generations will continue the tradition and stewardship of the benefit.