Eight-year-old girl dead and woman missing after Queensland townhouse fire

An eight-year-old girl has died and a woman is missing after a townhouse caught fire at Thorneside, south of Brisbane on Sunday.

Queensland police told ABC reporters at the scene that they had "a strong belief" that the missing woman had been at the home when the fire took hold, and would not have survived.

Emergency services crews were called to the fire, which damaged three separate townhouses, about 7.15am. By the time it was brought under control, about 40 minutes later, the roof of one of the townhouses had caved in.

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Queensland police service Ch Insp Karl Hahne told reporters that the first was "burning very hot" when fire and police crews arrived.

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

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

The body of the girl, eight, has since been recovered.

"Tragically, we have located one person deceased inside the premises," Hahne said.

"One person is still unaccounted-for however, we have a strong belief that person is also in the fire scene."

Paramedics also treated a man for smoke inhalation.

An investigation into what caused the fire, and attempt to locate the missing woman, are under way.