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‘Very special’: Family mourns girl killed in fire as babysitter remains missing

An eight-year-old girl has died and a woman in her 30s, the child's babysitter, is unaccounted for after flames tore through a home on Brisbane's Bayside.

Raven's heartbroken relatives Robert Arthur Rodgers-Falk and Christine Mary Rodgers-Falk have told 9News: "She loved shopping, she loved socialising, she was a very special, very well-loved eight-year-old girl.

"Her nickname was 'Turtle'… she was very pretty and she lifted us up when we saw her."

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A young girl has died and a woman in her 30s is unaccounted for after flames tore through a row of townhouses east of BrisbaneRaven Rodgers-Talk, eight, was tragically killed in the fire and the family babysitter Stephanie Ryan is still missing following the horrific blaze, 9News can confirm. 9News understands Raven's parents, Matthew Glen Rodgers-Talk and Chloe Louise Rodgers-Falk, were in Ballina in NSW at the time of the fire.

9News understands Raven's mother Chloe Louise Davidson and stepfather Matthew Glen Rodgers-Falk were in Ballina at the time of the fire.

Emergency services were called to Bayside Court in Thorneside about 7.15am yesterday to find the townhouse well alight.

The flames spread rapidly and were visible from several suburbs over.

Brave neighbours rushed to the scene, scaling fences and using hoses and buckets of water to try and battle the fire.

"I've got my own kids and I just kicked into gear," neighbour Zac Benjiman told 9News.

Thick smoke was seen billowing from the multi-storey property, where the roof collapsed and surrounding buildings were left charred.

Brave neighbours rushed to the scene and used hoses and buckets of water to try and battle the fire.The flames spread rapidly through the units and the blaze was so fierce it was visible from several suburbs over.

Queensland Police Service Chief Inspector Karl Hahne said the units were "burning very hot" and multiple efforts were made by first responders and neighbours to enter the premises.

"It's a confronting scene for all emergency services, and I'm quite sure for the residents and our hearts go out to the families affected by this," Hahne said.

"Anyone who assists anybody in the time of need, we tip our hat to them.

"For the next few hours and even the next couple of days, this scene will be an ongoing investigation."

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It could be days before the cause of the blaze is determined.

Due to the intensity of the fire, it is still too hot for investigators to gain access safely, meaning it could be days before the cause and origin of the blaze can be determined.

Authorities have not been able to say whether the fire is being treated as suspicious, or whether it was a horrific accident.

A man was also taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.