Against the global backdrop of frequent forest-grassland fires, the pneumatic fire extinguishers have emerged as essential equipment for grassroots firefighting in China due to their superior portability and terrain adaptability, although persistent bottlenecks such as the difficulty in controlling reignition, excessive vibration and noise, and limited endurance remain. In this paper, the pneumatic fire extinguishing mechanism, equipment evolution, and future development directions are systematically reviewed. It is demonstrated that the extinguishing process is achieved through three stages comprising the removal of combustible volatiles, heat supply interruption, and combustion reaction termination via high-speed airflow. Nevertheless, quantitative research is currently constrained by inconsistent parameter standards and the absence of universal models for complex scenarios, making it difficult to provide accurate support for equipment optimization. In China, pneumatic fire extinguishers have progressed through phases of functional realization, integrated expansion, and performance optimization, achieving significant advancements in structural design, the synergistic application of fire extinguishing agents, and noise reduction, though system integration and technology development remain insufficient. It is proposed that future technological breakthroughs should prioritize battery power upgrades and synergistic innovation with aerogel fire extinguishing agents, while simultaneously bridging the gaps between quantitative theory and engineering application. This study is intended to provide a theoretical and practical reference for technological innovation and engineering application of pneumatic fire extinguishers, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of forest and grassland fire suppression.