Firefighting volunteer explains ‘jet shooters’ use in Kalimantan forest fires as netizens question equipment and spending
An Indonesian firefighting volunteer has defended backpack pumps known as “jet shooters”, saying they remain useful for ground crews in areas with limited water access.
- A volunteer defended jet shooters as useful for ground crews facing limited water access.
- Malaysian social media users questioned whether backpack pumps are adequate for extensive forest fires.
- Indonesia also uses water bombing, cloud seeding and more than 24,000 firefighters.
A volunteer involved in fighting forest and land fires in Kalimantan has defended the use of backpack firefighting pumps, known as “jet shooters”, after the equipment attracted criticism from Malaysian social media users.
The debate emerged after videos circulated showing Indonesian fire crews using the portable pumps to spray water at burning vegetation. Malaysian users questioned whether such equipment was adequate for tackling fires over large areas, with some calling for more advanced firefighting equipment.
The comments were shared in screenshots accompanying a post by Malaysian X account Datuk Hensem, which also criticised Indonesia’s government spending priorities and referred to its Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) free nutritious meals programme.
The wider discussion came as Indonesia intensified efforts to contain forest and peatland fires across several provinces, including West and Central Kalimantan.
More than 24,000 firefighters have been deployed on Sumatra and Borneo, while authorities have also used aircraft for water bombing and cloud-seeding operations. Some hotspots have remained difficult for ground crews to reach.
Volunteer explains how jet shooters are used
The volunteer, using the account name bagasstar, said the equipment shown was a jet shooter and that it remained useful in certain conditions, particularly in areas where water availability was limited.
“The tool used is called Jet Shooter, and yes, it is indeed worth using. Especially in areas with low water availability,” the volunteer said.
The volunteer explained that the spray could be adjusted and that its purpose was not necessarily to extinguish a fire completely, but to slow its spread.
“Sometimes it's used to spray on the face of the team because the fire in the forest is so hot,” the volunteer said, adding that they had used the equipment for years, including since a fire-suppression operation in 2015.
The volunteer also questioned why people were mocking the equipment, saying the jet shooter was a genuine firefighting tool used in different countries under certain conditions.
The comments came after another user questioned whether more effective firefighting equipment should have been provided, particularly given the scale of Indonesia’s forest and land fires.
The volunteer said they agreed that disaster mitigation required improvement and that they had repeatedly raised concerns with the government about the way fires were handled.
However, they opposed criticism directed specifically at the jet shooter, arguing that the equipment had a legitimate role in firefighting operations.
What is a jet shooter?
A jet shooter is a portable backpack pump consisting of a water container carried on the operator’s back and a hand-operated pump connected to a hose and nozzle.
The design allows one firefighter to carry water directly to areas that vehicles cannot easily reach. The US National Wildfire Coordinating Group defines a backpack pump as a portable hand-pumped sprayer supplied from a liquid-filled container fitted with straps and used mainly for fire and pest control.
Models commonly used for vegetation and wildland firefighting can hold about 19 to 20 litres of water, with adjustable jet or spray patterns. Indonesian firefighting equipment suppliers describe the equipment as being intended for initial suppression, fire control and operations in areas that are difficult for vehicles to access.
The equipment is also used overseas
Backpack pumps are not unique to Indonesia.
Similar equipment remains part of wildland firefighting operations in countries including the United States and Canada.
The US Forest Service and other US wildland firefighting agencies maintain backpack pump equipment as part of their firefighting inventory. US government equipment catalogues list backpack pump bags, harnesses and hand pumps specifically for fighting wildland fires.
In Canada, backpack pump systems are also used by wildfire agencies.
A 2023 report on updated wildfire equipment said every Canadian province, along with the federal Parks Canada agency, was using a backpack pump system, although newer and lighter technology was being introduced.
The US Forest Service has also documented the use of powered backpack pumps in remote areas where conventional fire engines cannot reach.
