The Rockville Centre Fire Department was called to assist with a dangerous situation at Shiloh Baptist Church at about 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 22 when the steeple on top of the church fell off its base.

According to a statement from RVCFD Chief John Busching, the steeple was dangling precariously and was in jeopardy of falling to the street below, endangering pedestrians and traffic on Morgan Days Lane.

Eureka Hook and Ladder Unit 447 was called to the scene, where firefighters determined the steeple was too large to attempt to remove it from the roof. The firefighters instead secured the steeple to the roof in moderate winds and a temperature of 38 degrees.

The open base was covered with a tarp to prevent damage from the weather and the entire operation was complete just past 8 p.m.