how do underwater flares (or matches) maintain a flame or light when they are surrounded by water?

Question

Just watched Crawl (2019) and got me thinking.

Edit: i should clarify, why do they not extinguish like a normal flame.

In: Technology

Answer 1

Flares don’t have to specifically be meant for use underwater. Just as an example, standard road flares will burn underwater…won’t light underwater but they’ll burn if lit and then submerged.