MIDDLESEX TWP — Joe and Linda Jansen watched 30 years of memories go up in flames Tuesday evening as fire consumed their picturesque log home.

"Gone," Joe said, "like that."

Firefighters from several departments arrived shortly after 5:30 p.m. and immediately shared the couple's sense of helplessness as flames devoured both floors of the house at 420 W. Cruikshank Road.

"It was far too gone when our guys got here," said Chief Andy Huerbin of the Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Company. "The entire house was engulfed."

Trudging through knee-high snow at times to battle the blaze, firefighters used a tanker shuttle to shower the house with water. Later, came a coating of foam to knock down hot spots.

No one was injured and the fire is believed to be accidental.

Meanwhile, the Jansens wonder how they restore order to their upside-down lives.

"We're both shaken but physically we're OK," Joe said. "I don't know what started the fire. And I don't know why it happened to us."