FLAMETHROWERS

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh was jeered and a fire official protesting her recent brass shake-up was cheered at a promotions ceremony in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

Kavanagh stood up on the dais as she was introduced at the start of the event, prompting a smattering of applause and loud boos from the back of the Christian Cultural Center in Starrett City.

The heckling was so noticeable that the FDNY emcee, Capt. Andrew Brown, chided the ranks, “Quiet down, gentlemen.’’

Chief of Department John Hodgens, one of two fire officials who gave up their titles last week in protest of Kavanagh’s sudden demotion of three of their colleagues, was then introduced.

Hodgens, who had been seated to Kavanagh’s right, received huge sustained applause as he stood and saluted the crowd.

An FDNY source said of the cool reception Kavanagh received, “After what she did on Friday, she is lucky the boos weren’t louder.”

A high-ranking FDNY source has told The Post that the demoted brass — Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention Joe Jardin, Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Gala and Assistant Chief of Operations Fred Schaaf — got the slap Friday partly because of the alleged “way they undermine their counterparts.”

Kavanagh told about 20 deputy chiefs in a private powwow after the demotions were announced that she was tired of underlings asking for promotions, department cars and other perks, without offering any suggestions on such crucial issues as how to reduce fire deaths, particularly in The Bronx, sources said.

Bitterness in ranks

But critics said the demotions have left the department in disarray and caused extreme bitterness among the ranks.

In addition to Hodgens, Chief of Operations John Esposito also voluntarily gave up his title, the sources said.

One FDNY source said the three higher-ups who were demoted had not supported Kavanagh’s eventually successful bid to become the city’s first female fire commissioner.

“No one on the job supported her, from chief down to fireman,’’ the source claimed.

Firefighters union President Jim McCarthy told The Post, “The boos and applause show who the department members do and don’t support. It’s inaccurate to say the members [who were demoted] undermined her.”

At a press briefing after the ceremony, Kavanagh said, “I’m making changes as every commissioner has done before me, every single one. I’m picking a staff that’s going to lead us forward.”

The FDNY did not comment on the booing.