PHOTOS: Boston Fire Ladder 16 Trains at Vacant Spring Street Property

Boston Fire Department Ladder 16 of Roslindale was in West Roxbury yesterday to train on the condemned house at 132 Spring St.

Property owner Steve Morris expects the house to be demolished this spring. The property has long stood vacant, to the chagrin of some residents who have long called for its destruction. Morris says he is in the process of securing demolition permitting, but said he estimates that the demolition will occur "within 60 days."

In the meantime, with the property set to be destroyed anyway, the firefighters were able to make use of it. A spokesman said the simulation exercise, which included roof and ventilation work, would be valuable to some of the firehouse's less experienced fighters, who had not yet received such training.

Morris credited West Roxbury resident and Boston firefighter Stephen O'Connor with the training idea and organization.