Philadelphia approved a comprehensive study of the city's firefighting needs. The study, commissioned by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, is meant to provide data-driven answers to questions about cutting fire services during the recession. The local fie union has blamed injuries and even deaths on the brownouts in fires where the nearest fire company was not working. Union officials also questioned the analysis that supported the decision to deactivate seven fire companies and the continuing brownout of four companies daily.