The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal residential structure fire that occurred during the mid-morning on Tuesday.  At approximately 10:31 AM (CST), Sheriff’s Office Deputies and other emergency personnel were dispatched to a residence located in the 5600 West block of CR 300 North. Deputies L. Scott Boswell and Jeff Wright were the first to arrive at the scene and found the residence on fire with visible flames. Deputies Boswell and Wright attempted to gain entry in the residence, but were forced back because of the working fire. Several Volunteer Fire Departments arrived at the scene to begin to extinguish the fire. When firefighters made entry into the residence, they discovered a subject within the interior. The deceased victim has been identified as 81 year old Charles Putchaven. The La Porte County Coroner’s Office has ruled the cause of Putchaven’s death to be smoke inhalation and severe thermal burns. Sheriff’s Office Detectives and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating further to possibly determine a cause of the fire. At the time of the fire, CR 300 North was closed between Johnson Road and CR 525 West.