Queanbeyan residents have been left reeling by the death of a baby girl in a fire that destroyed a unit in the city's east.
Plush teddies and pink blooms were placed behind the police tape at the base of the apartment block in Mowatt Street where the one-year-old girl died on Monday afternoon.
Firefighters managed to rescue the girl's 22-year-old mother and three-year-old brother from the balcony of the unit but she perished, despite crews searching for her until their gas cylinders ran out of air.
The woman and her young son remain in hospital. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Police remained on site on Tuesday and were "still processing the scene", according to a duty officer.
Detectives arrived about 9.30am to examine the unit but left a short time later.
Among those that left tributes were reportedly two school girls.
A simple card left at the scene read: "Those we love are always with us".
Other residents of the unit tower were yet to return to their homes on Tuesday morning.
It is understood there may have been asbestos in the roof of the apartment and it is unclear whether any structural damage occurred.
Nearby neighbours spoke of their shock and disbelief at what had happened.
A woman who lives close by said the area was full of young families.
"It's a good neighbourhood. I think the whole community will support [the family]," she said.
Kimberley Bell and Sarah Blackman only just moved into the tower of units adjacent to the unit block where the baby girl died.
From their balcony they could see into the blackened belly of the fire-ravaged home.
"I was sitting on the couch when I heard sirens. Then the power went out so I ran outside to have a look," Ms Bell said.
"I saw cops running [towards the building]. It was so surreal, I didn't know how to feel. There were a fair few people standing around on the corner. Then I went back inside and looked out the bedroom and realised how close they are."
Ms Wells said she didn't know the family but her neighbour had told her he often heard the little ones running around.
Ms Blackman said she too would be laying a tribute to the baby girl later in the day.
A crowd-funding campaign for the family raised about $1100 in 16 hours.
