What type of water is specifically used to combat Alpha fires?

The type of water used to combat Alpha fires is indeed water itself. Alpha fires, or Class A fires, typically involve ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, and cloth. Water is effective in extinguishing these types of fires because it cools the burning materials and helps to reduce the temperature below the ignition point, thus stopping the combustion process.

Using water directly can also help to suppress the fire by soaking the materials and preventing re-ignition. It is essential in firefighting protocols for these types of fires to use water as a primary extinguishing agent.

Other options may include different extinguishing substances suitable for various classes of fires or specific scenarios but are not the appropriate choice for Alpha fires. AFFF is a foam that is primarily effective against flammable liquids (Class B), CO2 is used for electrical fires or those that involve flammable gases (Class C), while jettison usually refers to the act of discarding something, not a firefighting agent.