The Queensland Fire Department will plead guilty to a workplace health and safety charge over events surrounding the death of firefighter Izabella “Izzy” Nash and the serious injury of her colleague Lia Drew in a devastating warehouse fire.
The department (QFD) announced on Friday it intended to enter a guilty plea over alleged safety failures linked to fireground radio communications during the 2023 blaze.
Nash, 46, and Drew were seriously injured while battling the fire at a warehouse in Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, on May 2.
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Nash was pulled unconscious from the burning factory by fellow firefighters and rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where she died the following night.
Drew survived but suffered serious burns to her hands and arms.
Izzy Nash and her partner Bec Weinert. Credit: QFES
The Office of Work Health and Safety (OWHS) launched an investigation into the tragedy and commenced legal proceedings against the QFD in 2025.
The department was accused of failing to comply with its health and safety duty, exposing an individual to a risk of death, serious injury or illness.
QFD has now confirmed the alleged failures relate to fireground radio communications.
However, the department said prosecutors were not alleging those failures caused Nash’s death or Drew’s injuries.
“On 2 May 2023, the Queensland Fire Department lost one of its own,” the department said in a statement on Friday.
“QFD has been working with the safety regulator and prosecutor since the incident and has today informed all relevant parties that QFD intends to plead guilty to the charge in the Work Health and Safety prosecution.
“However to be clear, it is not alleged that such failures caused the death of Izzy or the injury to Lia.
“As the matter remains before the court, further detail cannot be provided at this time.”
Nash was pulled from the fire at a business next to the Pacific Highway in Slacks Creek by colleagues. Credit: 7NEWS
QFD Commissioner Steve Smith described Nash’s death as a “profound tragedy”.
“Her dedication, service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said.
“I want to reassure Queensland Fire and Rescue Firefighters and the Queensland community that the Queensland Fire Department has learnt from this tragic incident.”
Smith said the department had undertaken substantial work to improve structural firefighting safety since the blaze.
“We are not finished. We will continue to adapt and evolve to meet the challenges of modern firefighting,” he said.
“My focus remains on supporting those affected by this incident, respecting the court process and doing everything reasonably practicable to keep firefighters and Queenslanders safe.”
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