FDNY Shuts [Torah] Tots Center

A Staten Island day-care center was shut down yesterday when firefighters — after reading about its grand-opening celebrations in a local paper — paid a surprise inspection and found it was unlicensed.

The Torah Tots Academy, which was run by the Jewish sect Chabad Lubavitch, had about 80 kids from 2 to 5 years old enrolled, authorities said.

The site of the day-care center — which was run out of two neighboring houses, at 289 Harold St. and 389 Bradley Ave., and a trailer — was also home to Yeshiva Mesivta Menachem and a synagogue.

FDNY brass had initially inspected the site weeks ago.

The program’s coordinators had said then that they didn’t have the license on them because it was Passover, fire officials said.

Then, a fire lieutenant read a newspaper story about a party to celebrate the opening of the Harold Street house, a two-family home that was purchased by the Chabad in December.

“This was brought to my attention when the lieutenant showed me the article last night,” said Fire Capt. James Koeth, of Engine Co. 163. “So we came to do an inspection.”

Once the authorities revisited the place, they quickly learned there was no Health Department license to run a day-care center at Harold Street.

Inspectors also found that at the Harold Street building there was no sprinkler system and insufficient fire exits.

Officials at the Department of Buildings said the basement of the Bradley Avenue building — which was being used as a classroom — was operating without enough exits.

“That’s a serious safety condition,” said a DOB spokeswoman.

Chabad Director Rabbi Moshe Katzman defended his curriculum to reporters.

“We are running a great program here,” he said. “The kids are loved and cared for here. It’s a safe and very warm environment.”

He added: “We were informed today that we have violations. We’re working to work out these violations, and as soon as these violations are worked out, we will resume our programs.”