Police confirm body of babysitter Stephanie Ryan found following horrific Thorneside house fire which killed Raven Contini, 8

Police have revealed a tragic update during their investigation into a horrific fire which killed an eight-year-old girl.

Police have confirmed a second body – belonging to a babysitter – has been found at the scene of a horrific house fire that killed an eight-year-old girl.

Stephanie Ryan was initially unaccounted for following the fire which broke out on Bayside Court in Thorneside in Brisbane’s bayside region on Sunday.

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

On Monday, Queensland Police confirmed the body of the missing 31-year-old was found following a protracted search.

“A port-mortem and scientific examination will take place to confirm the identities of the deceased,” they said in a statement.

“Investigations are continuing to determine the cause of the fire.”

Emergency services were called to a house on Bayside Court in Thorneside in Brisbane’s bayside about 7.15am on Sunday.

When fire crews arrived, the townhouse was fully alight.

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

Babysitter Stephanie Ryan is still missing after the fire broke out killing Raven. Picture Supplied/Facebook

The girl’s babysitter, Stephanie “Stephy” Ryan from the Northern Territory, was unaccounted for following the blaze.

It’s understood Ms Ryan was on a holiday and was staying at the home after arriving from the NT on Thursday, the Courier-Mail said.

Queensland Police South Brisbane District Detective Inspector Paul Dalton earlier told reporters grave fears were held for Ms Ryan.

Queensland Fire Department Acting Superintendent Mark Burcher said investigators were yet to “really got into the structure just because of stability”.

“Because of the death of the child in the upper level, it’s going to be a slow, methodical task for us to get into the structure,” he said.

A male friend of the girl’s family who had been living in the garage was reportedly not home when the fire started. He had gone to the shops and returned to find the property ablaze.

Queensland Police South Brisbane District Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said the man had been “very co-operative” with investigators.

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

Investigations into the fire continue, with Inspector Dalton saying there was “nothing to say this fire is suspicious in any way”.

“But we will treat it as though it is until we make a determination one way or the other,” he said.

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

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

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

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.”

Queensland Police Service Chief Inspector Karl Hahne earlier said there was a “strong belief that person is also in the fire scene”.

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

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.”

The girl’s mother and stepfather were interstate at the time of the fire. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

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

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

“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,” 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.”

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 that 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.”

Inspector Dalton on Monday praised the efforts of bystanders to attempt to battle the blaze.

He said that after reviewing the footage he had noted “some incredibly brave acts” from bystanders.

“And compassion acts done by members of the community trying to put this fire out and assist getting people out of the premises, but I think it was a futile cause,” he said.

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

Originally published as Police confirm body of babysitter Stephanie Ryan found following horrific Thorneside house fire which killed Raven Contini, 8