King Charles III visits CSIRO bushfire research lab in Canberra, Australia, focusing on bushfire and climate research


Iain Hoey
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CSIRO hosts King Charles III at bushfire research facility
His Majesty King Charles III recently visited the National Bushfire Behaviour Research Laboratory in Canberra, hosted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), as part of his sustainability-themed visit to Australia.
As reported by CSIRO, the King engaged with Australian scientists working on innovative bushfire research to understand wildfire behaviour and enhance protective measures for communities and fire response teams.
This visit follows King Charles’s previous tour of a CSIRO site in Canberra in 1966, when he observed research at the Division of Wildlife Research at Gungahlin as a young prince.
CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton stated that the research conducted at the lab is addressing not only national but also global challenges associated with wildfires.
Dr Hilton said: “The rising threat of extraordinary landscape fires has shown that uncontrollable and devastating wildfires are becoming an expected part of our seasonal calendars. Not just in Australia, but across the globe.”
King Charles observes wildfire demonstrations and meets emergency personnel
King Charles III observed two demonstrations at CSIRO’s bushfire research lab.
The first demonstration involved the use of a ‘Pyrotron’ combustion wind tunnel, which simulates fires in a safe environment to allow scientists to study various influences on wildfire behaviour, including fuel types and wind.
Dr Matt Plucinski, CSIRO Senior Research Scientist, led the demonstration and described the Pyrotron’s role in understanding bushfire dynamics and improving suppression and prediction methods.
Dr Plucinski said: “Understanding changing weather patterns due to climate change and the likelihood and behaviour of bushfire outbreaks helps to increase resilience in Australia and overseas, especially in regions that previously haven’t been that prone to bushfires.”
Following this, King Charles met with emergency personnel, including ACT Rural Fire Service Chief Rohan Scott and members of the Tidbinbilla volunteer brigade, and observed a ‘burnover’ drill.
This drill showcased the bushfire response capabilities of ACT Rural Fire Service’s heavy tanker, which is equipped to protect firefighters during intense wildfire conditions.
CSIRO’s bushfire protection systems and international collaboration
CSIRO’s ongoing research into fire-resistant protection systems for fire trucks was presented to King Charles during his visit.
CSIRO developed a burnover protection system that includes specialised spray nozzles, heat shields, and fire-resistant components.
These systems, developed in collaboration with fire agencies such as the Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), were first tested during the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria, where they protected eight fire crews without loss of life.
The systems proved vital in subsequent fires, including the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-2020.
According to Justin Leonard, CSIRO Bushfire Adaptation Research Leader, the burnover protection systems are now widely implemented across Australia and are being shared internationally.
Mr Leonard said: “We are sharing the research, both in terms of the designs for trucks and the way we validate and test the systems through the use of a purpose-built bushfire burnover simulator situated in Mogo NSW.”
CSIRO reflects on royal connections and ongoing commitment to bushfire research
This marks the first visit by a reigning monarch to Australia since 2011.
During the visit, CSIRO highlighted previous royal connections, such as the use of CSIRO-developed Aerogard insect repellent to protect Queen Elizabeth II from flies during her 1963 visit.
The product became widely popular after journalists noted its effectiveness during her tour.
The King’s visit provided CSIRO with an opportunity to present advancements in bushfire resilience amid escalating climate challenges.
Mr Leonard added: “Protecting lives and the environment as we deal with more severe and frequent bushfires is an important process for us to get right under climate change.”
King Charles III visits CSIRO bushfire research lab in Canberra, Australia, focusing on wildfire and climate research: Summary
King Charles III visited CSIRO’s National Bushfire Behaviour Research Laboratory in Canberra to gain insights into bushfire science and emergency response capabilities.
Hosted by CSIRO as part of his sustainability-focused trip to Australia, the King observed the Pyrotron, a combustion wind tunnel used to study wildfire behaviour.
He also met with Australian scientists and emergency personnel for a ‘burnover’ drill demonstrating advanced fire truck protection systems developed by CSIRO.
CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton and Bushfire Adaptation Research Leader Justin Leonard highlighted how such research assists fire agencies in managing wildfire risks.