Chief Joseph Dixon joined the department in July of 2018. He made tremendous advancements in the department in his time here. He implemented a reorganization of the department to include the positions of Deputy Chief and Lieutenant allowing for more advancement opportunities within the department. This reorganization was also a cost-saving effort not only within the department, but the city of Goldsboro. He has encouraged new and differing training opportunities to allow the personnel to grow in their knowledge of the fire service. He was an advocate, not only for the employees of GFD, but for the citizens of Goldsboro as well. Chief Dixon left the department to pursue other opportunities in March of 2021.

Thick smoke could be seen for miles as Eastern Aluminum on Oak Forest Rd. burned on the afternoon of April 13, 2018. C Shift was on duty that day, but members of A and B Shifts were called in to assist. 35 Personnel from GFD along with volunteers from Belfast, Elroy, Nahunta, and Patetown Fire Departments fought the fire for almost 1.5 hours before it was under control. Crews were on scene for almost 10 hours total to keep watch on any hot spots and also for investigation and clean up. Two fire personnel and one civilian sustained minor injuries that day. Cause of the fire was undetermined after the investigation.

Chief Gary Whaley became Fire Chief in 2009. During his time as Chief, he accomplished many goals for the department. The ISO (Insurance rating) for GFD was improved from a 4 to a 3 due partially to personnel and equipment improvements. Station 4 had an addition added on in 2010. Due to the size of apparatus being used, the old bay was too small and no longer usable for housing the apparatus. A new dual bay was built on the eastern side of the structure. Other departmental improvements included the addition of our current Engine 1, as well as a new aerial apparatus, Tower 1. Staffing improvements were made in adding the positions of Senior Firefighter, Day Shift Captains, and the Fire Marshal. The Water Rescue team was developed after the need was seen during several major hurricanes in our area. The GFD Explorer program, and the Car Seat program were also implemented in our department during Chief Whaley's time at GFD. He was very active within the community, never one to say a job was too small for him. Chief Whaley retired from the department in 2017.

Goldsboro Firefighter, Carol Taylor, passed away on November 14, 2008 following a shift at Station 4. Her crew at responded to an electrical fire call a few hours prior to shift ending and they did not return back to the station until close to 0800. She was found in her home later that day after suffering from an apparent heart attack. Firefighter Taylor had served her community for over 11 years.

Before the sun had even risen on February 19, 2005, a fire broke out at the Paramount Theater on S. Center St,  destroying years of history. An officer from Goldsboro Police Department noticed the flames and called dispatch around 04:00. Over 60 members of Goldsboro Fire Department were on scene, as well as members of New Hope, Rosewood, and Elroy Fire Departments. Volunteers from Mar Mac and Pinewood Fire Departments were on standby to assist with any other calls that Goldsboro would receive that day. Multiple aerial units were utilized to help contain the fire to just the Paramount Theater. There was a real danger of the entire block of businesses going up in flames. Chief Greenfield knew after assessing the situation that the theater was not going to survive the fire, and therefore focused on preventing the fire from spreading to the other structures beside the theater. Crews stayed on scene well into that day to keep watch for hot spots even after the fire was out. On February 15, 2008, only three years after the devastating fire, the Paramount Theater was rebuilt and opened for business.