A babysitter remains missing after a fire engulfed a home east of Brisbane, killing an eight-year-old girl.

Emergency services rushed to Bayside Court in the small coastal community of Thorneside early on Sunday to find the townhouse ablaze.

Up to 30 firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, which were so intense they caused part of the roof to collapse.

Neighbours rushed to help and tried to get people out but Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said it was a “futile effort”.

An eight-year-old girl, who has been named by media as Raven Contini, was found dead inside the home.

Dalton said a 31-year-old woman who was babysitting is still missing, with police still unable to get full access to the destroyed home.

“We hold grave concerns for her welfare,” he said on Monday.

A third person, who was a family friend living in the garage, was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Dalton said the man was out when the fire started, returning home to find the house ablaze. He said the man had been “very co-operative”.

“That person has been spoken to by police and given us a full and frank conversation,” Dalton said.

Raven’s parents were interstate at the time of the blaze and have since been informed of the tragedy.

“They are obviously devastated. They’ve been offered support by police and they will continue to go through that,” Dalton said.

It remains “undetermined” whether the blaze is suspicious until officers can enter the home and identify the cause.

“There’s nothing to say that this fire is suspicious in any way, but we will treat it as though it is until we make a determination one way or another,” he said.

Emergency services remained at the scene on Monday to try to stabilise the home so police investigators can go inside.

“We’ve had structural collapse, so we have a technical rescue crew unit and aerial crew working now to stabilise the upper level, remove roof tiles so we can start the investigation,” Queensland Fire Department Acting Superintendent Marck Burchard said.

Any neighbours who witnessed the tragedy are urged to reach out for help.

“These sorts of incidents even for seasoned police, fires and ambos are traumatic,” Dalton said.

“I can only imagine what it’s like for someone who’s not exposed to that normally.”

Tributes have been laid near the home for the girl.

“Fly high beautiful girl,” one card read.

The girl’s great-aunt has set up a GoFundMe to help the family after the “terrible tragedy”.

Redlands City Council Mayor Jos Mitchell said it was a “deeply upsetting” incident for the community.

“It is important during difficult times that we pull together in support,” she said.

Local MP Don Brown said his thoughts were with the family and community.

-with AAP