King Charles III, renowned for his passion for environmental causes, visited CSIRO’s National Bushfire Behaviour Research Laboratory in Canberra on 21 October. This marked his second visit to a CSIRO site in the capital, following his first as a young Prince in 1966. This visit centred around bushfire resilience, a growing global concern.
With wildfires becoming more prevalent and devastating worldwide, the King’s engagement shed light on the cutting-edge research Australia is doing to combat these extreme events. In a key moment of the visit, the King ignited an experimental fire in the Pyrotron, a 29-metre-long combustion wind tunnel, giving him a firsthand look at the work CSIRO is doing to understand fire behaviour.
During his visit, King Charles also observed a ‘burnover’ drill involving an ACT Rural Fire Service heavy tanker. The drill showcased life-saving protection systems designed for fire trucks, which have been vital in safeguarding firefighters during major incidents like Black Saturday in 2009 and the Black Summer fires of 2019-2020. These systems, developed in collaboration with CSIRO, include heat shields for windows and spray nozzles that protect fire trucks and crews from being engulfed in flames.
CSIRO’s chief executive, Doug Hilton, spoke proudly of the research underway, highlighting that the lessons learnt in Australia are now helping countries worldwide, from France to the United States, strengthen their own wildfire defences.
“This research doesn’t just benefit Australia. It’s part of an international effort to address the growing threat of extreme fire events, exacerbated by climate change,” said Hilton. “The King’s visit amplifies the importance of these efforts.”
CSIRO’s work, demonstrated through the Pyrotron, helps researchers understand how different factors, like wind and fuel types, affect fire spread. This research is key to developing predictive models that allow fire agencies to plan suppression strategies and warn communities in a fire’s path.
Dr Matt Plucinski, a CSIRO Senior Research Scientist, who led the Pyrotron demonstration, shared how the research is influencing real-world outcomes. “The knowledge we gain here is used to improve fire suppression techniques and enhance the protection of firefighters on the ground. The goal is to keep people and communities safer.”
The King’s visit also touched on how climate change is making areas that haven’t historically faced wildfire risks more vulnerable. With unpredictable weather patterns becoming the norm, nations around the globe are grappling with the reality that no region is immune to these types of natural disasters.
One example of this global threat was the 2022 Wennington wildfire in east London, which caused significant damage during a heatwave, destroying almost 20 homes. While no lives were lost, the event underscored how regions unaccustomed to such events are now forced to rethink their preparedness.
CSIRO’s work has led to the development of world-leading crew protection systems, including the burnover system installed in fire trucks across Australia. These systems were crucial during Victoria’s Black Saturday fires, where eight fire trucks were impacted, but all firefighters survived unharmed. The importance of these innovations cannot be overstated, and they continue to evolve as bushfire risks grow.
Justin Leonard, CSIRO’s Bushfire Adaptation Research Leader, stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing these challenges. “We are working with international partners to share designs and knowledge. Our burnover protection systems are now being tested by fire agencies in places like France and America. The King’s visit helps highlight the critical need for continued innovation and global cooperation.”
King Charles’ visit is part of his broader sustainability-themed tour of Australia. His deep interest in climate issues made this stop at CSIRO particularly meaningful. While the sight of the King igniting an experimental fire in the Pyrotron may have been a symbolic gesture, it underscored a serious message: collaboration and science are key to tackling the growing threat of wildfires, not just in Australia but around the world.
This visit also added to the rich history of royal engagements with CSIRO. Notably, in 1963, the CSIRO-developed insect repellent Aerogard was first put to public use when it was employed to protect Queen Elizabeth II from Australia’s notorious bush flies. Since then, the relationship between the royal family and CSIRO has continued to foster important conversations about science and innovation.
King Charles’ engagement with Australia’s national science agency has not only highlighted the urgent need for enhanced bushfire resilience but also emphasised the global nature of the challenge.
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