Jake M. Hoeffner‚ 17‚ a junior firefighter with the Yaphank Volunteer Fire Department‚ died on May 31‚ 1998‚ from injuries sustained in a fall four days earlier during a department training exercise. He planned to join the department when be became 18‚ following in the family tradition. His father‚ two uncles‚ and both grandfathers have all served with the local department.