The woman who died in an Oct. 30 house fire in Limestone County died of smoke inhalation, the state fire marshal said Thursday.

Cathie Carter, 63, was found dead inside the rubble of her two-story wood-frame home that Monday morning. It was the second fire-related death in Limestone County this year.

State Fire Marshal Scott Pilgreen told The News Courier the cause of the fire is still under investigation, though it was found to be accidental in nature and with no foul play involved.

“Often times we feel comfortable saying the cause until a reason comes up to make it concrete,” Pilgreen said. “They (investigators) think they know what led to it but because of the damage there is nothing they can hang their hat on yet. The fire will remain under investigation, and hopefully they will get more information that will tighten it up.”

A neighbor on the sparsely developed gravel road off Holt Road noticed the fire and rushed to the scene, but a mail carrier had already arrived and telephone 911, she said. Believing Carter might be home, the neighbor tried to enter the dwelling but was turned back by the heat and flames, she said.

Volunteer firefighters from Piney Chapel, East Limestone, Oak Grove-Thach, Bobo and Harvest as well as firefighters from Athens Fire & Rescue tried to extinguish the blaze but could not halt the conflagration. Once the fire burned out, investigators found Carter’s body.