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FOXBORO - Less than four months after signing on for three more years, Fire Chief Gerald McNamara has announced plans to retire.

McNamara, who has led the department since May 2005 will step down on Jan. 10.

He will be the town's second fire chief in a row to retire after less than four years in the top spot.

"All the guys will wish him well on his retirement," Deputy Chief Steve Bagley said.

McNamara notified his staff of his plan about two weeks ago, Bagley said. "This has not been an easy decision for me. My 37 years with Foxboro Fire and Rescue have been rewarding, both professionally and personally," McNamara, 58, wrote Sept. 21 to Town Manager Andrew Gala.

McNamara said in 2005 he expected to give the town seven to 10 years of service as chief. He is on vacation and could not be reached for comment.

McNamara joined the department in April 1971 as a call firefighter after three years as a Mansfield call firefighter. He became a full-time Foxboro firefighter in July 1980.

This summer, McNamara signed a new contract, effective July 1, through June 30, 2011, boosting his salary 2.5 percent, to $114,049, and adding a benefit requiring the town to pay the chief overtime for hazmat drills and responses.

Selectmen Chairman Mark Sullivan said it's too soon to say how the town will proceed in finding a successor to McNamara, but that the opening will be posted.

Under Foxboro's strong town manager form of government, Gala, who is currently out on leave following shoulder surgery, will make the hiring decision.

Robert Gaulin ran the department for almost a year as acting chief before Gaulin's promotion to chief in September 2002. Gaulin retired on Jan. 31, 2005.