The volunteer fire department is truly strong in the offline world. But to have a strong voice in the digital world as well, knowledge, strategies, and skills in dealing with social media and disinformation are crucial, because digital misinformation is increasingly affecting the fire department as well.

In the online training course “DFV direkt” offered by the German Fire Service Association (DFV), Lara Grewe and Marlene Obst explained to more than 400 interested firefighters from all over Germany the mechanisms behind disinformation, how to recognize fake news, and how to fact-check information. The two journalists from the media organization “CORRECTIV – Investigative Journalism for Society” are particularly committed to raising awareness in this area. Since January 2025, they have been collaborating with the German Youth Fire Department (DJF) on the “Brandherd Desinformation” project.

Fake News Undermines Trust in Emergency Services

The speakers began by providing some background: Studies show that 15-year-olds in Germany spend an average of about seven hours a day on their smartphones. They obtain a large portion of their information through social media platforms. At the same time, 30 percent of social media users report having already fallen for political fake news.

Why is this relevant to the fire department? Disinformation often aims to weaken trust in society and democracy. As a public organization, the fire department is also a target. Hate and incitement undermine trust in emergency services; fake news can even hinder operations.

Recognizing Disinformation

Grewe and Obst explained how fake news is structured: People are particularly likely to believe fake news when it appeals to their emotions, is repeated frequently, confirms existing beliefs, or receives many likes from others. That is why it is important to ask yourself questions while scrolling online, such as: Is this content deliberately appealing to emotions? Are arguments presented in extreme terms or is drama being created? Are sources cited—and are they credible? Does the post create an enemy stereotype?

Content that appears particularly clear, simple, and polished should also be critically examined. Spontaneous and thoughtless sharing, on the other hand, contributes to the further spread of fake news. “Once something is out in the world, it’s very hard to take back,” the experts said.

Verify the actual context

According to the journalists, conducting research in established mainstream media or with public authorities can help identify disinformation. Especially with photos and videos, inconsistencies in fingers, hair, or movements, as well as incorrect objects, could be signs of manipulation. A reverse image search can also help verify the actual context of images.

To actively counter fake news, a link to a fact-check can be shared in the comments. Illegal content should also be reported using the reporting functions on social media platforms.

The Prone-to-Error Nature of Chatbots

The training session also briefly addressed the prone-to-error nature of chatbots. The speakers emphasized that applications like ChatGPT or Gemini are not “thinking machines,” but rather predictive models: they calculate which word is likely to follow—not whether a statement is factually correct.

“Brandherd Desinformation” Project with the German Youth Fire Department

The project launched in January 2025 with the goal of strengthening young people’s media and source literacy and supporting civil society organizations in addressing disinformation. The project is taking place nationwide at seven youth fire departments. In three workshops, the young people learn to conduct their own research, identify reliable sources, and create their own content—while also providing insights into their work with the youth fire department.

The project is funded by the federal program “Demokratie leben!” (Living Democracy!) of the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth. Insights into the project work as well as freely available materials for implementing media literacy programs can be found on the project website (German) .