Crime scene established after girl killed in fire at Thorneside unit complex

Large flames and smoke billowed from the apartment on this quiet street on Sunday morning. “I thought oh my goodness, the fire's come from the kitchen, the door and the smoke.” “Just used the bucket... the small basket to put the water over the fence but it was too high for me.” By the time fire crews arrived, the unit was fully alight and the roof had collapsed. “It probably took us a good 60 minutes to 90 minutes to get this fire under control and put the fire out.” Firefighters found the body of an eight-year-old girl. Authorities continued to search the burned-out unit for another person. “We have a strong belief that person is also in the fire scene.” It was a confronting scene. “Obviously heroic acts from residents. We did also have an off-duty firefighter who had ceased work this morning, who was here on scene trying to assist. But obviously that fire intensity pushed them back.” “In a circumstance like this, on a Sunday morning, a fire, you don't expect this. As I said before, our thoughts go out to the family and to those affected.” The cause of the blaze is unknown. “I can say completely that for the next few hours, maybe in a couple of days, this scene will be an ongoing investigation.” A crime scene has been declared -- but police are not treating the fire as suspicious.