Research notes on the history of the Goldsboro Fire Department. Primary sources are cited newspaper articles.

Before 1900

1869 – Notice in newspaper: “Citizens of Goldsboro! Do you want a reliable Fire Company to be composed of white men? If you do, then go, without fail, and attend the meeting at the Court House this evening.” [Goldsboro Daily Messenger, 7/8/69]

1873 – Dr. B. F. Arrington is carrying around a “subscription list” to procure a fire engine for the town. [Goldsboro Messenger, 3/13/73]

1878 – Letter to editor in newspaper from Julius Ash, who has received a fire engine named “Little Giant” and that he proposes to sell to the town, as “there is nothing in this town to extinguish a fire.” Nor is there a fire company. [GM, 5/9/78]

1879 – Town commissioners have “unanimously resolved” to purchase a fire engine. [GM, 8/11/79]

1879 – Town commissions at that last meeting appointed a committee to “solicit subscriptions for the purpose of purchasing a fire engine fore the town.” [GM, 8/25/79]

1879 – Town officials approved purchase of a Silsby steam engine for $3,900, includes 1,000 feet of hose and a hose carriage. [GM, 9/4/79] The purchase was subsequent “rescinded” as town officials didn’t believe a majority of voters would approve the purchase. [GM, 9/25/79]

1880s – Lionel Weil was Chief of Department by this time. He was the city’s first documented fire chief. He served until 1884. [GFD]

1880 – Around this time the market house and fire station was erected on Ash Street. [Goldsboro News, 2/26/28]

1881 – Champion chemical engine has been purchased for $2,220. Named “Goldsboro.” [GM, 3/24/81, 7/28/83]

1881 – Newspaper notice. “The subject of organizing a fire company is now under consideration, and we learn that a meeting to that end is shortly to be held. We hope to see a good company organized.” [GM, 4/7/81]

1881 – City ordnances adopted on June 1, 1881, included a section on “Fire and Fire Companies.” It included the requirement that the board of aldermen annually appoint a Chief of the Fire Department and one assistant. [GM, 6/6/81]

1881 – Newspaper notice: “The chemical fire engine has reached here and a fire company will be next in order.” [GM, 7/11/81]

1882 – Eclipse Steam Fire Engine Company, later named Eclipse Fire Company No 1., was organized in May 1882. [GM, 4/12/83]

1882 – New steam engine has been delivered and accepted by the city. Named the Mary Alice, it’s a “Silsby Rotary No. 5” and can pump 600 gallons per minute. Two horse carriages were also delivered. [GM, 7/27/82]

1883 – The chemical engine has been equipped with a “patent force pump” for filling the tanks at a fire, and negates the need to fill the tanks using buckets. [GM, 9/6/83]

1884 – Major fire on November 19, 1884. Destroyed half of the city’s business district. Cisterns were used as a water supply. [GNA, 4/23/32, GNA, 10/3/97]

1884 – The two fire engines are housed in the Market House by this time. Also, horses were recently purchased for fire and street work. [GM, 2/28/84]

1886 – New engine house for the chemical engine is being erected on John Street, north of Lamb’s stables. [GM, 12/2/86]

1887 – Henry Lee named Chief of Department. He served for some 17 years. [GFD]

1888 – Major fire, Sauls Mill. [GNA, 4/29/75]

1890 – First fire hydrants installed as part of a waterworks system. [GN, 2/26/28]

1890 – About this time, the steam engine became horse-drawn. [GNA, 4/23/32]

1893 – Fire and Water Committee is looking for a new location for the engine houses, as the current ones “are a disgrace to Goldsboro.” [Goldsboro Headline, 12/21/93]

1894 – City has purchased a lot on John Street, between Mulberry and Walnut streets, for building an engine house. [Goldsboro Headlight, 2/8/94] Contract for building was awarded. The property adjoined the livery stables of Captain J. W. Lamb. [Goldsboro Weekly Argus, 3/8/94]

1894 – Snapshot. GFD has 35 men, one-horse hose reel, one-horse hose wagon, one hand reel, plus three being repaired: steam engine, chemical engine, and hand reel. Plus 1,110 feet of good hose and 300 feet of unreliable hose. During last fiscal year, GFD answered six or seven fire alarms. [GWA, 5/10/94]

1894 – Engine house for Company No. 1 reported as finished. [GH, 5/3/84]

1894 – New boiler being installed in the steam engine. [GNA, 7/9/94]

1894 – Election to be held to issue bonds to erect a market house, engine house, and city hall on/near the site of the old market house on Ash Street. [GNA, 12/2/94]

1895 – The Borden building was recently leased as an engine house for the steam fire engine company. [GNA, 8/21/95]

1898 – Fire alarm system installed by this time. Nine boxes in the system. [Goldsboro News Argus, 3/16/98] Note: GFD records January 1901 as the date that the alarm system was installed. 

1900 to 1909

1901 – E. E. King appointed Chief of Department. Served until 1918. [GFD]

1903 – Fire Chief makes recommendations to city board, including (a.) that a horse be kept in the stable at the engine house at all times, (b.) that one company be on duty at all times, (c.) that during the day, the company on duty respond to fire alarms and the company not on duty stand by at the engine house unless called for a second alarm, (d.) that the driver of the hook and ladder truck respond to all fire alarms, if at the engine house, (e.) that the Electric Reel Company are not required to respond to any alarm of fire, unless when specifically called, that (f.) for alarms at night, the hose wagon company on not duty will respond to the fire “without running the horse.” [GNA, 3/24/03]

1905 – Both engine houses have been overhauled, with new stalls added for the new horse, who will pull the hook and ladder truck. They were needed as the ladder truck was too heavy for one horse. [GWA, 9/28/05]

1908 – Major fire in the business district destroyed the fire bell and bell tower, as well as the stables and equipment behind the engine house. [GWA, 12/24/08]

1909 – New fire bell delivered, to be mounted in a temporary tower until a steel tower is erected. It weighed 1,515 pounds and was cast by Meneely Bell Company of Troy, NY. [GNA, 1/11/09]

1909 – Leslie Yelverton named Chief of Department. He served 20 years, though apparently not continuously. [GNA, 6/13/29] Newspaper reports show that he was elected as assistant chief for some of those years. For example in May 1915, Max Cohn was cited as fire chief and Yelverton as assistant chief. [GWA, 5/13/15]

1909 – Major fire, cotton warehouse. [GNA, 4/29/75]

1910 to 1919

1910 – Around this time, the steam engine received its third boiler. [GNA, 4/23/32]

1913 – First motor apparatus delivered. American LaFrance Type 10 combination, reg #370, ship date 8/2/13. [Peckham]

1914 – Bids are being received for building Fire Station 2 on Vine Street. [GNA, 12/5/14]

1915 – Paid firefighters placed in service on October 15. [GWA, 10/7/15]

1915 – New Station 2 opened, likely that year. Construction bids advertised in December 2014. Still trying to find citations. 

1916 – Major fire, Oil Mill on South John Street. [GNA, 7/4/76]

1920 to 1929

1920 – New pumper delivered. 1920 American LaFrance Type 45, 1000/?, reg #2792, ship date 1/7/20. [GNA, 2/12/20] [Peckham]

1922 – Station 2 was closed and quarantined after Allie Gurley developed smallpox in March 1922. The fire truck at Station 2 was relocated to Station 1 and all fire department members were vaccinated, if needed. [GNA, 3/28/22]

1923 – New pumper delivered, 1923 American LaFrance Type 75, ?/?, reg #4240, ship date 4/28/23. [Peckham]

1927 – Snapshot. GFD has two stations, two officers, eight paid firemen, and 21 volunteers. [GN, 2/27/27]

1927/28 – Station 2 on Vine Street closed. Later used to house reserve apparatus.

1929 – Mutual aid to Kinston for the Adler Brothers Department Store fire on January 31, 1929. [GN, 2/1/29]

1929 – Chief Yelverton died off-duty on June 13, 1929. He was 45 years old and had been sick for two years. [GNA, 6/13/29]

1929 – George W. Mabry named Chief of Department, started February 15, 1929.
He had last worked in Rocky Mount. He was chief of department in Goldsboro in the 1910s, but resigned to spend more time on private affairs. He was initially named acting fire chief [correct?], and later made permanent. He resigned on August 1, 1930, and following “friction” with some in the city and in the fire department, and notably calls for a “local man” to lead the department. [GN, 2/24/29; GNA, 7/31/30]

1930 to 1939

1930 – Max Cohn named Chief of Department, started on August 1, 1930.
He served until 1941, when he retired. He later returned to GFD to serve as Assistant Fire Chief after his wife died. [GFD, GNA 7/31/30]

1930 – New pumper delivered, 1930 Mack Type 19, 1000/?, delivered by April 28, 1930. [GNA, 4/28/30]

1930 – First ladder truck delivered, 1930 Mack Type 70 service truck. Delivered May 1930. [GNA, 4/28/30] 

1939 – Central Fire Station relocated to Ash Street. Opened on April 5, 1939. Station cost $50,000. Had 12,063 square-feet. Was nearly four times the size of the old station. [MJL]

1940 to 1949

1940 – Steam engine placed in reserve. Later scrapped during World War II. [GNA, 5/15/60]

1941 – Allie Wilton “A. W.” Gurley named Chief of Department.
He served until 1949, when his rank was changed to Assistant Chief. He died off-duty on April 18, 1953. [GFD]

1941 – After bombing of Pearl Harbor, auxiliary firefighter program is started. [GNA, 5/15/60]

1942 – Major fire on May 4, 1942, Atlas Plywood. Several firemen were injured. [GNA, 4/29/75]

1946 – New pumper delivered, purchased from the government after the closure of Seymour Johnson Air Base. The 1942 Ford/Maxim pumper was later assigned to Station 2. [GNA, 3/8/19]

1947 – Two-platoon shift system started. [GFD]

1947 – New budget approved. Will include funding for new fire truck and more personnel, allowing the work schedule to change from 4 on/1 off to 3 on/1off. [GNA, 7/29/47]

1947 – New pumper delivered, 1947 American LaFrance 700 Series, 750 GPM. [GNA, 10/7/47] Purchased about a year ago it cost $14,000. It was delivered by rail. [GNA, 10/2/47]

1948 – Major fire, Weil’s Department Store on South Center Street, February 9, 1948. [GFD]

1949 – Wesley Howell named Chief of Department. He served until 1968, when he retired with 40 years of service in GFD. [GFD]

1950 to 1959

1951 – New pumper being tested, 1951 American LaFrance 700 Series, 200/750 GPM. Purchased in October for $17,000. [GNA, 9/3/51]

1952 – First radios installed on apparatus. [GNA, 5/15/60]

1953 – First rescue unit added, after organization of Goldsboro Rescue Squad. [GNA, 5/15/60]

1954 – Alarm system heavily damaged by Hurricane Hazel. System replaced with a new system that did not utilize the fire bell. [GNA, 2/18/77]

1954 – Snapshot. The rescue unit at the fire department answered 176 calls during the year, and averaged almost one call every other day. Four fire department members were assigned to the unit, two on each 24-hour shift. They were Captain T. E. “Red” Davis, Carroll Lynch, Aaron Eason, and Charlie Williams. The volunteer members were divided into two companies of ten members, with a second lieutenant in charge of each company and a sergeant as assistant. The squad was led by a captain and first lieutenant. The squad met each Tuesday night at the fire department for a business meeting and training classes. [GNA, 1/31/55]

1954 – Major incident, gas explosion, April 12, 1954.

1954 – Major fire, Wayne Agricultural Works, July 2, 1954.

1954 – Major incident, Hurricane Hazel, October 15, 1954.

1956 – Station 2 relocated to Beech Street on August 27, 1956. [GNA, 5/15/60]

1957 – First aerial apparatus delivered on February 4, 1957, was a 1957 American LaFrance 700 Series mid-mount aerial ladder, 85-foot. Delivered by rail. [GNA, 2/5/57]

1958 – Snapshot. GFD has seven pumpers, two ladder trucks, two rescue units, and a chief’s car. The 37 personnel include two platoons of 18 men who work in two shifts.

1960 to 1969

1962 – New pumper being tested, 1962 American LaFrance 900 Series, 1000/500, open cab. It was later modified with a canvas roof. [GNA, 2/24/62] Delivered by rail, replaced a 1923 American LaFrance. Cost about $24,000. [GNA, 2/19/62]

1962 – Junior Fire Marshal program held in city schools each fall and spring. [GNA, 8/26/81]

1965 – New pumper delivered on June 4, 1965, was a 1965 Seagrave, 1000/300, open-cab. Was assigned to new Station 3. [GNA, 6/4/65]

1966 – Station 3 activated on July 29, 1966.  [GNA, 7/19/66; 7/4/76

1967 – Department obtained Level 4 insurance rating. [GFD]

1968 – New pumper purchased, American LaFrance. New fire station site purchased, Poplar Street. [GNA, 7/2/68]

1969 – Willard Ray Herring named Chief of Department, started on January 1, 1969.
He was an 11 year veteran of GFD. He served until April 1, 1999, when he retired. [GFD, GNA, 2/16/69]

1969 – New pumper delivered, Ford/American LaFrance, 1000/300. Cost $23,000, assigned to Station 2. Replaced a 1947 pumper that would be moved to reserve. [GNA, 8/10/69]

1970 to 1979

1970 – Training center created. [GFD]

1972 – New pumper delivered, Ford/JACO, 1000/500.Cost $31,127. First truck painted white. [GNA, 10/18/72]

1972 – New fire apparatus now painted white.  

1973 – New ambulance added and GFD members were certified by the state office of EMS as ambulance attendants. [GFD]

1974 – Third platoon added. The work week was reduced from 72 to 56 hours for firefighters. [GFD]

1974 – Major fire, Belk-Tyler Company department store, November 20, 1974. Mutual aid responded from Wilson, Kinston, LaGrange, and Seymour Johnson AFB. Help was also offered by Dunn and Wake County. [GNA, 11/21/74]

1974 – Home inspection program started. [GNA, 8/26/81]

1975 – Major fire, Weil’s Department store, April 28, 1975. Mutual aid responded from Kinston, Winston, Mount Oliver, Faison, Fremont, and Seymour Johnston AFB. [GNA, 4/29/75]

1976 – New fire truck delivered, Dodge/Pierce mini-pumper. The $24,000 truck carried 250 gallons of water. [GNA, 2/22/77]

1976 – New aerial apparatus ordered. Also, $20,000 in repairs approved for existing ladder truck, for new ladder and hydraulic system. City would borrow a ladder truck from Kinston or Wilson, while the truck was being repaired. [Waynesborough Ledger, 4/29/76]

1976 – Station 1 relocated to Center Street, at the new Police-Fire Complex. Both police and fire transferred their operations on October 19, 1976 [GFD]. A dedication was planned on December 5. [GNA, 11/3/76]

1977 – New aerial apparatus delivered by this time, 1976 Hendrickson/Pierce/Snorkel, 1000/0/85-foot. Cost $157,000. [GNA, 8/19/77, GNA, 2/22/77, [MJL]

1979 – Alderman approved purchase of a new pumper by American LaFrance for $85,541 and a new ambulance from Atlantic Ambulance Builders for $20,563. [GNA, 1/16/79]

1979? – New pumper delivered, 1976 American LaFrance Century, 1000/500. Painted white. [MJL]

1980 to 1989

1982 – Station 4 activated on Poplar Street on December 13, 1982. [MJL]

1984 – New pumper purchased, built by Pierce. The pumper-tanker would replaced two older American LaFrance engines. [GNA, 5/8/84]

1984 – New pumper delivered, 1984 Pierce Dash. [GNA, 5/11/09]

1989 – First “independent” rescue truck placed in service. The unit was no longer staffed with firefighters who served “double duty” for both fire suppression and EMS and rescue work. There were seven members, all EMTs. And the GFD squad planned to upgrade to EMT-I. 

1989/90 – Apparatus delivered, 1989/90 Grumman [?] step van, Truck 15. Used as a city-wide service truck. Carried a cascade system, generator with light town, the first Holmatro extrication equipment in the County, a command desk, and a cell phone. [OH]

1990 to 1999

1990 – First closed-cab apparatus delivered by March 5, 1990. The 1990 Pierce Arrow, 1000/__, cost $157,971. It replaced a 1969 Ford/ALF pumper that would be put into reserve. [GNA, 3/5/90, GNA, 8/10/15]

1995? – New pumper delivered, 1995 Pierce Dash. Last white fire truck.

1998 – Line of duty deaths, November 6, 1998, at Wayne Auto Salvage. Killed were GFD member Robby Blizzard, who was off-shift and volunteering with Arrington FD, and Sidney Jones, chief of Thoroughfare FD. [GFD]

1998 – New pumper delivered on February 1, 1998. Built by Marion Body Works on a Spartan chassis. Driven back from the factory by the fire chief. New Engine 5. [GNA, 2/3/98]

1998 – Station 5 activated on Central Heights Road.

1999 – Bobby Greenfield appointed Chief of Department.
He retired in December 2006.

2000 to 2009

2000 – New quint delivered on December 6, 2000. Was a 2000 E-One, ?/450/75-foot. New Engine 2. [GFD, GNA, 12/7/00]

2000 – Station 2 relocated to 1901 Royall Avenue.

2001 – New ladder truck delivered, 2001 E-One CR100, 1500/?/?/?/100 foot. Was expected in February. Built by E-One it had a 1500 GPM pump, foam system, and 100-foot ladder. [GNA, 12/7/00, GNA 7/8/01]

2002 – GFD ambulances and personnel moved to the county as part of newly created Wayne County EMS system in September 2002. [MJL]

2004 – Major fire, Wayne County Memorial Community Building on May 2, 2004. [GFD]

2005 – Major fire, Paramount Theater on South Center Street on February 19, 2005. [GFD]

2007 – Alvin Ward named Chief of Department, started January 16, 2007.
He was hired from outside the department and was formerly the fire marshal in Chapel Hill. [GNA, 1/23/07]

2007 – New pumper delivered on December 18. The 2006 E-One Typhoon, 1250/__, cost $377,100. Was also equipped with a light tower and a “vehicle extrication system.” It was purchased from C. W. Williams in late February/early March. It replaced a 1972 Ford/JACO pumper, that was in reserve. A 1983 Pierce pumper would be moved to reserve. It also replaced Truck 15 as the GFD rescue unit. [GNA, 1/2/07]

2008 – Line of duty death on November 14, 2008. Firefighter Carol Taylor suffered a heart attack at her home, after leaving the station and a few hours after responding to an electrical fire. [GFD]

2009 – Gary Whaley named Chief of Department.
Among his accomplishments was improving ISO rating from 4 to 3, expanding Station 4, adding positions of Senior Firefighter, day-shift captains, and the fire marshal, developing a water rescue team, adding an explorer program, and a car seat program. He served until he retired in 2017 with 35 years of service.[GNA, 4/27/18]

2010 to 2019

2010 – New pumpers delivered on July 31, 2010. Both were a 2010 Ferrara, 1500/750. New Engine 3 and Engine 4. [GFD, GNA, 8/25/10]

2010 – Two-bay apparatus building added at Station 4. [GFD]

2011? – New brush truck delivered, 2011 Ford F-350 with skid unit. [GFD]

2015 – Major fire, Aycock Tractor Company on August 4, 2015. [GFD]

2015 – New pumper delivered, 2015 Pierce Arrow, 1500/750. It cost $497,348. It would be put in service on August 17 as new Engine 1. [GFD, GNA ?/?/?]

2018 – Joseph Dixon named Chief of Department, started on July 2, 2018.
Hired from outside GFD and served as assistant fire chief in Howard County, MD. He had 25 years of experience with HCFD. Among his accomplishments was reorganizing GFD to include the positions of Deputy Chief and Lieutenant, to add more advancement opportunities. [GFD, GNA 3/30/18]

2018 – Major fire, Eastern Aluminum on Oak Forest Road on April 13, 2018. [GFD]

2018? – New ladder truck delivered, 2018 Pierce aerial platform, 1500/300/100-foot. [GFD]

2019 – By March, the dormitory building at Station 4 was demolished and a new building was under construction. The station crew lived in a temporary modular building on the site. [MJL]

2020 to Present

2021 – Ron Stempien named Chief of Department, started on June 30, 2021. [GFD]

2024 – New quint delivered, 2023 Spartan/Smeal, ?/450/75-foot. New Engine 2.

2025 – New engine delivered, new Engine 5.