Embers are the glowing, hot coals mae of greatly heated wood, coal or other carbon based material that remain after, or sometimes precede a fire. Embers can glow very hot, nearly as hot and sometimes as hot as the fire which created them. They radiate a substantial amount of heat long after the fire has been extinguished, and if not taken care of properly can rekindle a fire that is thought to be completely extinguished and can pose a fire hazard to anyone who is not careful. In order to avoid the danger of accidentally spreading a fire, many campers pour cold water on the embers to cool them off.