ADAMS CENTER — The cause of Wednesday's fatal fire at 13085 Route 11 might not be known by year's end, according to Jefferson County sheriff's detectives.

State and county investigators have been joined by insurance detectives as the search for evidence in the fire debris continues. A detective estimated it might take at least four months to come up with some answers.

A resident of the house, Joyce Nolan, 68, formerly of Hermon, was killed in the fire. Her death resulted from asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation, Detective Judy G. Goodman said.

Contrary to reports from people who were at the scene, Mrs. Nolan's body was found on the first floor of the duplex. Would-be rescuers could not see in the smoke-filled house and thought she was upstairs.

Her daughter-in-law, Victoria Roth, 44, who suffered burns and smoke inhalation, was upgraded Friday to fair condition, according to a spokeswoman at Upstate Medical University, Syracuse.