Queensland house fire: Thorneside blaze that killed girl, babysitter 'not suspicious'

Fraser Barton
AAP
Fire investigators have begun combing through the ashes of a Thorneside townhouse destroyed by a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 8-year-old Raven Contini and Stephanie Ryan.

A house fire that killed an eight-year-old girl and her 31-year-old babysitter is not being treated as suspicious by Queensland authorities.

Up to 30 firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze that engulfed a townhouse in Bayside Court, in the small coastal community of Thorneside in Brisbane’s east on October 6.

Neighbours also rushed in to help.

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But sadly the girl and her babysitter could not be saved.

The eight-year-old was found dead inside the home by authorities with the babysitter initially unaccounted for.

But a day after the blaze police were able to get greater access to the collapsed home and find the missing woman’s body.

A third person, a family friend living in the garage, was treated for smoke inhalation.

Police on Tuesday confirmed investigations are ongoing into the blaze but the fire isn’t being treated as suspicious at this stage.

The parents of the girl were interstate at the time of the fire and have been offered continued support by police.

A house fire (file image)
Police say a Brisbane house fire that killed a young girl and her babysitter was not suspicious. (Savannah Meacham/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Tributes were laid near the home in the days after the tragedy.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the victims’ family.

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