WISCONSIN DELLS, WI (WTAQ) - Fire destroyed the famous ark at Noah’s Ark waterpark near Wisconsin Dells early Monday.

But the driver of a construction backhoe saved a life-sized, man-made wooden elephant on the deck of the ark.

Delton Fire Chief Darren Jorgenson said the huge wooden ark was a total loss. The blaze started around 2:30 a.m. in a part of a storage building, which also had restrooms.

The excavation workers which brought the backhoe removed a number of stored items from the building.

Jorgenson said it took an hour-and-a-half to get the fire under control – and firefighters stayed throughout the morning to handle hot spots. No one was hurt.