UPDATE: Fatal fire ruled an accident

UPDATED AT 5:26 p.m. WEDNESDAY:

VALLONIA - A fire at the home of 68-year-old Bonnie Visty of Vallonia has been ruled accidental by the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office.

The fire claimed the life of Visty, who was found inside a bedroom in the back corner of the home, where the fire started, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

Jackson County Coroner Andy Rumph confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the cause of Visty's death was smoke inhalation.

The sheriff's department responded to a report of the fire at 12:32 p.m. Tuesday at 4517 S. County Road 275W. At the time of the initial report, police were told someone may have been inside the home. A family staying in a recreational vehicle next to the home on Starve Hollow Lake reported the fire.

Driftwood Township Volunteer Fire Department arrived and extinguished the blaze with assistance of Brownstown Volunteer Fire Department.

After searching the house, Visty's body was found.

Rumph and the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office were notified and were on the scene Tuesday afternoon. Both offices participated in the investigation, police said.

Also responding to the scene was Jackson County Ambulance Service.

ORIGINAL POST AT 11:14 a.m. WEDNESDAY:

VALLONIA - A fire at a two-story lakeside home on Starve Hollow Lake claimed the life of a woman Tuesday afternoon.

Jackson County Sheriff's Department said the fire was reported at 12:32 p.m. at the residence of Bonnie Visty, 68, of 4517 S. County Road 275W near Vallonia.

Detective Rob Henley said Visty was found inside the home. Henley said  today the cause of death remains under invetstigation, but it appears it could be smoke inhalation.

He said cause of the fire remains under investgiation.

Officials from the state fire marshal's office and Jackson County Coroner Andy Rumph were on the scene Tuesday afternoon.

Henley said Rumph would be in charge of the death investigation.

The fire began in the bedroom, where Visty was found.

People visiting the area in a recreational vehicle next to the house called in the fire, said the Rev. Michael Hogg of Brownstown Christian Church, where Visty was a member.

"They were here on spring break and they spotted the fire," Hogg said.

"They saw smoke initially and thought it was from the chimney, and they left to go to Salem, and when they returned, the house was fully involved," Henley added.

Firefighters from Driftwood Township and Brownstown volunteer fire departments responded to the scene.

"It is still under investigation and will be for a while," Henley said Tuesday.  "(Firefighters) will be here until late (Tuesday) watching for rekindles and assisting the fire marshal's office the entire time."

Hogg said Visty's daughter had just called and checked on her mother Tuesday morning. Visty lived alone.

Her husband, George A. Visty, died at age 81 on June 1, 2005, at Hoosier Christian Village in Brownstown.

"She cared for him for several years after he had strokes," Hogg said. "I don't think she ever got over the loss."

Hogg said Visty has family in the Jackson County area. He also said Visty had just returned from seeing family in California.

The Vistys were familiar to locals.

"Most of the firemen knew them all personally," Hogg said. "It was not a stranger's house."

The Vistys' home was in a serene place on the lake near Starve Hollow State Recreation Area.

"Her and her husband loved the lake," Hogg said. "They had a sailboat, and the kids grew up here. Everybody remembers them sailing on their sailboat. Those were their happy years here."