The Research and Planning Unit was developed in 1999 out of a need to have dedicated personnel within the Fire Service to carry out the important task of conducting departmental research. "The Planning Unit" as it is commonly called, is solely responsible for the preparation of the department's Annual Report and the compilation and dissemination of Departmental statistics.

The Planning Unit assists other Units within the Service such as the Barbados Fire Academy and the Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement Unit with research in current fire fighting and societal trends that could affect the Fire Services’ ability to provide efficient service to the public. The Unit also has the responsibility to plan all major departmental events such as award ceremonies and strategic planning meetings.

Generate Fire Statistics Report