CODE 2, VOL 37, NO 4 : 03 may 2023

VALE FF 1st CLASS IZABELLA ‘IZZY’ NASH

I wanted to update members and our colleagues and friends in the firefighting community across Australia on the tragic death of our comrade and colleague FF 1st Class Izzy Nash (UFUQ member number 6057) who joined Fire and Rescue and her union in 2014.

FF Nash was stationed on A shift at Acacia Ridge Station in the Brisbane Region. UFUQ representatives have been in constant contact with her Acacia Ridge Station colleagues who were also in attendance at the structure fire in the early hours of Tuesday 2nd May 2023, and also have been speaking to firefighters across both Brisbane and South East Regions who knew and worked with Izzy. Our support for those who knew and worked with her will continue as needed, along with ongoing support for FF Nash’s family and partner.

You may have already heard or read comments from me in the media about the investigation already underway into the circumstances that resulted in us losing one of our own. Your union is already working to identify and gather information that will ensure that this tragedy is fully investigated, in the hope of preventing whatever caused our comrade and colleague’s death from happening again.  I affirm your union’s commitment to ensuring the facts relevant to FF Nash’s death are not lost in the events to follow, and that anything at all that can be done to prevent any recurrence of these most tragic of all circumstances will be at the forefront of your union’s commitment to your health and safety,

And of course, Izzy’s colleague on A shift, Senior Firefighter Lia Drew, is also now in hospital having been seriously injured in the same structure fire. Your union representatives have spent time with SFF Drew and we will continue to provide her with any and all supports we are able as she recovers from her injuries. We will respect her privacy and refrain from discussing her circumstances.

Like all of you, both FF Nash and SFF Drew accepted the honour and responsibility of being a firefighter with pride. We are always ready to respond to the call to duty and that requires us to deal with horrible circumstances including serious injury and loss of life on a regular basis, but that doesn’t mean it affects us any less when it’s one of our own people. I encourage you not to hold back on how you’re feeling or dealing with this and to reach out however you feel necessary to access any of the supports you need.

John Oliver - General Secretary