Freeport’s fire chief will take a medical leave of absence at the end of January to recover from surgery for an unspecified ailment.

Chief Darrel Fournier said the leave is unrelated to questions about his former part-time job with Paul Davis Restorations, a company that specializes in remediation of damage caused by fire, smoke, water and mold.

Fournier, a 42-year veteran of the fire service, said on Dec. 31 that he would resign from Paul Davis Restorations after questions arose about whether his relationship with the business posed a conflict of interest. While on duty as fire chief, Fournier had promoted the company to the Freeport Housing Trust, which owns a duplex that burned on Dec. 20.