East Lyme — The town's fire marshal resigned last week without reason, First Selectman Mark Nickerson confirmed Tuesday.

Chris Taylor, a full-time employee who had been with the town for the last 16 years, Nickerson said, submitted his resignation without reason last Thursday. Taylor has been out of work on Family Medical Leave since early August "on a very well-documented medical situation," Nickerson said.

Nickerson said he did not know the exact reasoning behind Taylor's decision and said he did not ask Taylor to resign.

"He's out on a leave and we don't know what's going on," Nickerson said. "We value his 16 years of service to the town."

Taylor said by text message Tuesday that he was leaving for personal reasons.

Nickerson said that the town's team of "six or seven" deputy fire marshals have "stepped up" since Taylor left on medical leave, all of whom will continue to cover Taylor's shifts until the town hires another full-time fire marshal to replace him.

"That will be determined as quickly as possible," Nickerson said. "We are going to replace the fire marshal appropriately with a proper search. I think it would be proper for us to do a statewide search while also considering local deputy fire marshals."

Nickerson did not clarify whether deputy fire marshals were employed by the town or volunteer, but said none was "classified as full-time." He said that all shifts are being covered, as a fire marshal is supposed to be on duty 24/7.

m.biekert@theday.com