A tragic fire at a townhouse complex in Thorneside, Queensland, resulted in the death of an eight-year-old girl and left a 31-year-old woman, believed to be the babysitter, missing.

The fire broke out around 7 AM on a Sunday morning while the woman was babysitting the girl, leading to a chaotic scene as emergency services responded.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the townhouse fully engulfed in flames, with the intense heat causing part of the roof to collapse.

Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control approximately 40 minutes later, but not before significant damage had occurred.

After extinguishing the flames, emergency services recovered the body of the young girl from the scene.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is being conducted by child protection officers and the homicide squad, with suspicious circumstances being considered.

Authorities later located the body of the missing woman, confirming her identity as the babysitter.

The girl's parents, who were out of state during the incident, have been informed of the tragedy and are receiving support from police.

In the wake of this heartbreaking event, tributes have been placed near the home, with messages of condolence pouring in from the community.

Witnesses to the fire are encouraged to seek support, as such traumatic events can have lasting impacts on everyone involved.

Police are treating the incident with caution, requesting any information or footage from the public to assist in their ongoing investigation.

To assist the grieving family, a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated by the girl's great-aunt, highlighting the community's support during this difficult time.