The body of an elderly man has been found in the ashes of a housing complex fire north of Brisbane.
Emergency services were called to the retirement village in Burpengary following reports of a blaze inside one of the units about 9pm on Monday.
The residence was well alight when they arrived and the neighbouring units were immediately evacuated.
Two homes were destroyed in the blaze.
"The fire was that intense a number of surrounding homes have actually been scorched by heat and hit with debris," Detective Inspector David Harbison said.
Once the fire was extinguished, an examination of the scene revealed the body of a person believed to be an 83-year-old male resident, police said.
He remains unaccounted for.
Insp Harbison said neighbours had tried to get the man out of the unit.
"They've bravely smashed windows and attempted to force open a door," he said.
"Unfortunately the intensity of the fire drove them back ... incredibly brave acts attempting to heroically save this elderly resident."
Insp Harbison said it was a tragedy for the small community who live at the retirement village.
"A lot of them talk to each other every day," he said.
"It's a sense of grief in this small little area here."
A crime scene has been established and investigations into the cause of the fire and formal identification of the deceased are continuing.
Investigators are appealing to anyone with information or relevant footage to come forward.
