Brave firefighter’s final moments in Slacks Creek blaze probed by investigators

Fire investigators are probing the final moments of a brave Queensland firefighter who became trapped in an industrial blaze south of Brisbane and ran out of air.

A firefighter became trapped and ran out of air, collapsing next to her colleague inside a factory inferno, before they were pulled from the blaze.

Izabella Nash, 46, was carried out of the Slacks Creek factory fire about 2.30am on Tuesday and despite the efforts of other fireys in confronting scenes at the base of a ladder, she passed away later that night.

Her colleague, Lia Drew, remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition suffering burns to her body.

Ms Nash is being remembered as an “experienced firefighter” who was “always the first person out to check over equipment”.

Firefighter Izabella Nash, who died from injuries sustained while responding to an industrial fire at Slacks Creek on May 2. Picture: Supplied

United Firefighters Union Queensland secretary John Oliver said Ms Nash and Ms Drew had become “trapped” and “ran out of air” on the second storey of the Slacks Creek factory.

Mr Oliver said it is too early in the investigation to determine what went wrong, but the “duration” Ms Nash and Ms Drew spent in the burning building would be probed after a ladder was used to rescue both firefighters from the second storey of the event planning business, A Noble Event.

“It was quite graphic … (they) worked on (Ms Nash and Ms Drew) at the base of the ladder.” QFES Acting Commissioner Mike Wassing confirmed that all equipment would be assessed as part of the investigation.

“Our firefighters check those matters regularly but as I’ve indicated all of those matters including the breathing apparatus and all the aspects of the operation will be fully assessed by work health and safety officers, by the Queensland Police Service and even by ourselves as a part of normal post operations and reviews,” he said.

Police at the scene of the blaze that killed Ms Nash in Slacks Creek. Picture: John Gass

Asked whether Ms Nash and Ms Drew were equipped with a “full” supply of air before they entered the burning building, QFES Acting Commissioner Mike Wassing said “absolutely”. Mr Wassing said Ms Nash’s partner Bec is also a firefighter with QFES.

“There are inherent risks … and sometimes unpredictable dangers associated with this line of work … I can assure you we want the answers too,” he said. Mr Wassing said injuries and fatalities were “very, very rare”.

Firefighter Izabella Nash with partner Bec Weinert and dog Billy.

“Our firefighters are hurting,” he said, adding it was “incredibly tough” for those involved in the incident.

“ (Lia) has come out of (the) intensive care unit and is now in the burns unit. She’s got weeks and months of recovery ahead.”

QFES Assistant Commissioner John Cawcutt, who knew Ms Nash personally, said all firefighters were made aware of her death on Wednesday morning.

“You get junior firefighters who come to the station and she’d be the first person out showing them over (the equipment). She always had a good sort of smile about her, could take a joke and give it out as well,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there would be a full investigation into the cause of the blaze, which led to Ms Nash’s “absolutely horrific” death.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Ms Nash’s death is a “cruel reminder of risks and dangers firefighters confront every day”.