Disco Inferno
- Feb 23
- 2 min read
The second annual fundraiser for the Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation brings together guests for a night of disco, dancing, and donations.
By Maddy Sims
On a gorgeously clear Sunday evening, the sun slips behind Bella Vista Estate in Summerland. But inside the estate’s Hangar, the night is just getting started.
The Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation’s second annual Disco Inferno fundraiser is officially underway. Under a cotton-candy sky, guests in sequins and red-hot hues hover around two long tables, eyeing silent auction prizes: brunch at San Ysidro Ranch, a stay at Hotel Californian, a stretch session at StretchLab, and a trove of Cos Bar beauty products. Bidding has already begun.
Dinner is equally as enticing. A Santa Barbara Hives truck turns out fresh pizzas, a Rori’s Artisanal Creamery cart scoops dessert, and a charcuterie table by The Grazing Place stretches out next to the silent auction tables. Passed bites—such as empanadas and loaded tacos—arrive in steady circulation, each one substantial enough to be a main course.
At the entrance, heavy white drapes glow fuchsia and orange. Two performers clad head-to-toe in mirrored glass get guests dancing before they’ve even crossed the threshold. Inside, the room is alive with sound and color: neon flames dance on the walls behind the DJ booth, light scatters across sequin dresses and metallic dress shirts, and the illuminated floor rises beneath a packed crowd singing every word. Guests sip on signature cocktails while waiting in line for the 360 photo booth.
The mood is celebratory, but the mission is serious. Founded by members of the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, the Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation extends well beyond emergency response—funding critical equipment, offering CPR training, supporting surf rescue awareness, and providing scholarships for local youth programs like the Carpinteria Junior Lifeguards. Its Benevolence Fund, perhaps most vital, delivers financial and emotional support to firefighter families in times of crisis. That purpose is what truly fills the room.
By the time the live auction begins, the energy has tipped from festive to electric. Bidding paddles lift in quick succession. Among the standout items: a hand-carved bench made by the firefighters themselves and a coveted stay at Rosewood Miramar Beach. Each final call leads to cheers.
Then comes the last ask, which is a direct appeal to the Benevolence Fund. Executive Officer Kenan Martig speaks sincerely about what it supports: families navigating loss, firefighters facing long-term illness, the unseen costs of a very visible job. One by one, paddles rise again.
By the end of the night, thousands have been raised. The dance floor is full. The mirrored dancers are still spinning. The music hasn’t let up. And neither, it seems, has the spirit in the room—equal parts sparkle and substance. If you missed it, there’s still time to be part of it: donations to the Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation can be made at sbsouthcoastff.com.
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