'Irreplaceable loss' of young mother felt as police investigate unit fire

Isabella Nicholls remembered as police investigate fatal Sunshine Coast unit fire Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 2:57pm In short: A 21-year-old woman died on Monday morning after suffering extensive burns in a fire on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday evening. Her family says she was a "beautiful soul" and mother who will be missed. What's next? Police have closed the crime scene and are testing evidence to determine the cause of the fire. The family of a 21-year-old woman who died after a fire ripped through a unit on Queensland's Sunshine Coast say they are grieving an "irreplaceable loss" as they raise money for her funeral, and to support her baby son. Isabella Nicholls, 21, of Kallangur, died after suffering extensive burns in the Buderim blaze on Sunday night. The unit was fully engulfed at 7:30pm, with five firefighting crews needing more than an hour to extinguish the flames. Ms Nicholls was able to flee the burning home but was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition. She died in hospital early on Monday morning and leaves behind her two-year-old son. Investigating officers spent yesterday at the gutted King Street unit, which had been declared a crime scene. They shut down the crime scene on Monday night and shifted focus to testing evidence collected from the site. Police said there were no persons of interest and all witnesses had been cooperative so far. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire, as a report is prepared for the coroner. The Department of Housing says the smoke alarm in the Sunshine Coast unit was tested in February as part of an inspection. 'So much life left to live' Ms Nicholl's cousin, Stephanie Weatherall, speaking on the family's behalf, said the 21-year-old was at the unit visiting her boyfriend's family. "Our entire family feels this irreplaceable loss so deeply," she said. "[Ms Nicholls] had so much life left to live." Ms Weatherall said the entire family was grieving and stricken by what the beloved mum endured. "Isabella was a devoted and loving mother to her beautiful baby boy, Elijah, who will now grow up without his mummy," Ms Weatherall said. "Our family is absolutely shattered by this unimaginable loss, and the heartbreak is beyond words. "Isabella was a vibrant, kind, and beautiful soul with her whole life ahead of her. She had a smile that could light up any room and a contagious laugh that none of us will ever forget. "She touched the lives of so many people with her warmth, compassion, and beautiful spirit, and her absence has left an irreplaceable void in all of our hearts." Ms Weatherall said Ms Nicholls was also a much-loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. Investigations are ongoing.