One year on since Izabella Nash death: Radio communications to be probed

The investigation into the death of Queensland firefighter Izabella Nash is believed to centre around a possible issue with radios, with communications on the day possibly garbled or not received at all.

Radio failures will be probed as part of the in-depth investigation into the death of Queensland firefighter Izabella Nash, it can be revealed.

Izzy Nash, 46, died in a Slacks Creek warehouse fire on May 2 last year after becoming trapped and running out of air in the blaze with her colleague, Lia Drew.

Both were pulled from the burning building by colleagues, but Izzy didn’t make it.

Firefighter Izabella Nash with dog Billy.

At the time, former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised a “full investigation” into her death – the first QFES tragedy in nearly 30 years, when two men died in a factory fire on the Gold Coast in 1994.

A year on from the tragedy, The Courier-Mail understands the investigation centres around a possible issue with radios.

Sources say communications on the day of the fire could have been garbled, or not received at all.

The Courier-Mail understands there had been previous issues with Government Wireless Network (GWN) handheld radios within the service where digital packages had become “corrupted” by background noise or other factors.

Firefighters at the scene of the large factory fire in Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, where Izzy Nash died. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Sources say about 50 people have already been interviewed as part of the investigation, with more expected to be grilled in the next few months.

Workplace Health and Safety is still conducting its investigation more than a year on, but it’s understood the report isn’t expected to be finished until at least the second half of the year.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Steve Smith said: “A year on from the tragic passing of Firefighter First Class Izabella Nash, her loss is still felt profoundly by her colleagues and the wider Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) family”.

“Izzy embodied the qualities to which all firefighters in the service aspired and was highly-respected as a firefighter, leader and mentor,” he said.

“The positive and enduring impact she made on those who served alongside her will be her lasting legacy.

“Following the incident, QFES established an Operational Advisory Group to review doctrine, equipment and processes. Actions continue to be implemented with consideration for systemic improvements for firefighter safety.

“We continue to assist Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Queensland Police Service with their investigations.”

Bec Weinert with her partner, fallen firefighter Izabella Nash. Picture: Supplied.

Izzy has been remembered as an experienced firefighter who was always the “first person out to check over equipment”.

Her former partner, Bec Weinert, delivered an emotional speech at her memorial last year, describing Izzy as “the matriarch of her family”.

“She was an exceptional firefighter who had passion for teaching junior firefighters the complexities of pump operations, firefighting, equipment use and what to do at an incident,” Ms Weinert said.

“Resembling a pillar of strength, she was the matriarch of her family, she was the confidant, the teacher, the mediator, the Macgyver.”

Ms Nash, who also had a military background, joined the fire service in 2014 and served as a First Class Firefighter.

The scene of a fire where Izzy Nash died at Slacks Creek. Picture, John Gass

Ms Drew – a former senior firefighter – has since recovered from serious injuries, but it’s understood she is no longer working on the frontline.

United Firefighters Union Queensland secretary John Oliver said the fire which claimed Izzy’s life wasn’t “remarkable”.

“We get those types of fires all the time,” he said.

“Each fire has its own idiosyncrasies and things to watch out for … you don’t know what’s inside from gas bottles to fuel but it didn’t look anything remarkable.”

Izzy with her dog.

Mr Oliver told The Courier-Mail last week that the protracted investigations were “taking a while” because of the “significant process in ensuring every issue that arises is being considered”.

“A whole wealth of information would have come from the crews onsite,” he said.

Gold Coast firefighter Noel Watson, 33, and Herbie Fennell, 46, lost their lives on February 11, 1994, with the coronial inquest into their deaths triggering multiple operational changes still followed today.

But The Courier-Mail understands that only “some” of the recommendations that came out of the inquest had been implemented within the service.

It is also understood that last year’s fatal fire had “similarities” to the 1994 fire.

Queensland Police Service Detective Inspector Chris Knight said the Coronial report is still being collated for this matter.