‘Fly high’: Tribute to 8yo girl killed in housefire, babysitter still missing

Tributes have been left outside the home of an eight-year-old girl who was killed in an horrific fire, as her babysitter remains unaccounted for.

Eight-year-old Raven died in a house fire on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Touching tributes have been left outside the home of an eight-year-old girl who was killed in an horrific housefire, as her babysitter remains unaccounted for.

Emergency services were called to a house on Bayside Court in Thorneside, east of Brisbane, about 7.15am on Sunday.

Eight-year-old Raven died in a house fire on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

When fire crews arrived, the townhouse was fully alight.

Eight-year-old Raven Contini’s body was found some time after.

Handwritten notes were seen outside the property on Monday, with one letter stating “fly high beautiful girl” and was accompanied by a hand drawn dove.

Another letter stated: “You tried everything you could to (be) the beautiful girl.

“You know that everyone loved you. Even though I didn’t know you, you will be dearly missed.”

It’s understood Raven’s babysitter, a woman in her 30s, remains unaccounted for as investigations are underway to what caused the blaze.

“However, we are of the strong belief that person is also in the fire scene,” Queensland Police Service Chief Inspector Karl Hahne said.

Tributes seen outside the property on Monday. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Flowers and a peace symbol were also left. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“Efforts were made to enter the premises and extinguish the fire.”

Raven’s mother and stepfather were interstate at the time of the fire, and have remembered how much the eight-year-old loved cooking, shopping and socialising.

“(She was a) very special, very well loved eight-year-old girl,” they told Nine News.

“She was very pretty, (had) long hair and she lifted them up when they saw her.”

While no other injuries have been reported, Chief Inspector Hahne said he expected it would take some time to determine the cause of the fire.

The eight-year-old girl died following a house fire at Thorneside in Queensland. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The blaze tore through the home. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“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,” Chief Inspector Hahne said.

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

“There was some support from neighbours, people surrounding to get it under control.”

Chief Inspector Hahne said he fire was under control by 8am but firefighters are continuing to make the structure “safe”.

The fire was under control by 8am on Sunday. Picture: Nine News

A woman in her 30s remains unaccounted for. Picture: ABC

Neighbour Xia Iheng told the ABC she had tried desperately to assist after witnessing the fire tear through the home.

I said ‘I don’t have a hose, I only have buckets’ and a young lady helped me to water the fire, but it was so strong,” she said.

“I feel overwhelmed, many emotions, just shocked and exhausted.”

Photos from the scene show one side of the roof collapsed during the blaze.

Queensland Police have declared the fire a crime scene as investigations into the cause of the blaze are underway.

Originally published as ‘Fly high’: Tribute to 8yo girl killed in housefire, babysitter still missing