BANGOR, Maine — Bangor Fire Chief Scott Lucas was placed on nondisciplinary paid leave of absence on Saturday, according to a city official.

“This is a personnel matter and we will be unable to comment further,” Assistant City Manager Robert Farrar said Tuesday, declining to answer any questions about what led to the decision.

City Manager Cathy Conlow was not immediately available for comment because she was out of town at a conference. Farrar said he did not know how long Lucas would remain on leave.

Farrar said the Fire Department’s four assistant chiefs, Thomas Higgins, Anthony Riitano, Rick Cheverie and Darrell Cyr, will lead day-to-day operations of the department under the direction of the city manager. There aren’t any plans to fill the chief’s position on an interim basis, according to Farrar.

Earlier this month, Lucas announced plans to resign from his post after his two-year contract expires on Dec. 3. The city has said it plans to begin a search for a new chief in the near future.

Lucas was hired in December 2012, coming off a 21-year career with the Westland Fire Department in Michigan, where he served as assistant fire chief. His salary was $81,754 when Bangor hired him to lead the 88-firefighter department, which currently has about 10 unfilled spots.

He was selected for the Bangor job from an initial field of 49 candidates and was one of five finalists. He replaced Jeff Cammack, who retired in February 2012 after 15 years as fire chief.

Following his resignation announcement after 23 years in the fire service, Lucas said he planned to coach club wrestling at the University of Maine, working with other volunteers to grow the program, which is not affiliated with UMaine Athletics. A university official said Tuesday that Lucas has no coaching affiliation with the wrestling club.

“The University of Maine has a well-organized wrestling club with a volunteer faculty advisor and volunteer coaches,” UMaine spokeswoman Margaret Nagle said Tuesday night. “Scott Lucas was in discussions with the coaches about helping out with the team this coming year. UMaine club sports do not employ directors of operations, such as a director of wrestling operations, nor is UMaine hiring a wrestling coach. Club sports are separate from NCAA programs and there is no intention to convert our wrestling club to an NCAA team.”

Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter @nmccrea213.