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Blackline Safety's EXO area monitors helped public safety agencies in Miami and more prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by providing a portable gas and gamma detection system with connected alerts to identify risks in real time.
Large-scale events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup put public safety on the world stage, and the professionals in charge of executing those plans need the best, most reliable tools to get the job done.
Their goal? Get millions of people home safe. That’s why the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department in Florida chose to partner with Blackline Safety for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—the type of large-scale public event at risk of becoming a target.
Marcel Berube is the Hazmat, Logistics and Training Lieutenant with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department in Florida. Called the World Cup’s best performing host city by Fortune, Miami Stadium sees an average of 60,000 fans per game with an estimated 10–20,000 more in the area. For 23-year veteran of the fire department, Berube, it’s a chance to show what his team and his city can do.
“That’s a big point of pride. We provide this great level of protection for the citizens of the county, but also the citizens of the world who’ve come to watch the game,” says Berube.
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“You’re there in case anything happens, and you have a product that’s going to assist you to help everybody if needed" |
Blackline at the World Cup
Berube’s team chose Blackline to support their public safety plan because the EXO 8 connected area monitor exceeded their needs. For a stadium of that size, EXO’s air monitoring with multi-gas and gamma radiation detection keeps crowds protected. If a hazardous element, like a toxic gas, were to enter an area, the EXO’s air monitoring capabilities would help the team mitigate exposure prior to it reaching the crowd.
The EXO area monitor’s discreet, drop-and-go portability also makes for easy deployment that doesn’t draw anxiety-inducing attention from fans. Eight EXO connected area monitors are placed throughout Miami Stadium, providing all the coverage the command team needs without standing out. “You don’t want something too obvious,” says Berube. “It looks like it’s supposed to be there.”
And with an ongoing event like the World Cup, battery life was a critical element. So far, their EXO 8s have been running for a month without a problem. “We were looking for something we could place without having to constantly take down and charge,” says Berube.
Perhaps most importantly, the real time data from Blackline’s EXO connected area monitors keeps the command team informed so they can make better, faster decisions. The data is so valuable, Berube and his team use it to inform the entire Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), a coordinated group of agencies including police, FBI, and more.
That real time data can be viewed remotely from anywhere in the world. When Berube was recently called away to aid victims of the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, he was able to log in remotely to see what was happening in Miami. “It’s the ability to see it 24/7,” he adds.
The Blackline Advantage
Safety risks at public events of this scale are diverse and numerous, so it’s important to have not just tools you trust but also a supportive team behind them.
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"Every experience I’ve had with Blackline has been great. The support side is excellent,” says Berube. |
“If you have a question they run you through it without a problem, and everyone is very helpful. Every time I've had an issue or a question they've been very supportive."
And when a reliable, real time platform has your back, you can focus on doing your job and taking in the amazing responsibility of keeping people safe on a global scale.
“Being asked to protect such a large event is incredible,” says Berube. "These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT EXO 8 AREA MONITORS