We begin with the lightest from stafford township, new jersey, in ocean county at least two were hurt and 75 homes were evacuated after a gas explosion on oak avenue. The gas crews were looking for the source of the leak when it ignighted this morning. Chopper 6 hd was over the scene after the explosion and it was leveled. Police say between 75 and 100 homes are evacuated right now and its affected area stretches from route 9 to perkins lane, that is the video from after it happened. This is the way it looks now, it looks like the fire is extinguished. We know that the gas company well its still burning there its an active gas leak here and they have evacuated the area because there is an imminent danger here, its unstable and the gas company is on the scene trying to turn off the source of the gas, they have evacuated a large area here to get people out of the way and they have been evacuated when the gas company was called out because of the odor of gas and they evacuated the homes and at this point they expanded that evacuation area, there are other homes here as well that were damaged in the explosion and can you see here some of those homes that have damage as well in the aftermath of this massive explosion that leveled one Single Family home and sent debris flying in all directions. This is another home, as you look there on the other side of your screen that is what was once a Single Family house and a fire still burning fueled by gas. Lets go to the phones and talk to mike kinney with new Jersey Natural Gas. Are you there . Yes i am. Can you assess the situation for us at this location . At this point in time, this is what we know, new Jersey Natural Gas is responding to reports of a natural gas leak, when five employees taken to the hospital, we dont know the extent of their injuries at this time and we have crews on the scene at this time. Five employees with new Jersey Natural Gas as far as you know were injured and hospitalized. Correct mike . We know that they have been taken to the hospital and we do not know the extent of their injuries. Talk about the smell the odor, the gas leak, were there problems at this house before or was this an is lated incident . The information i have at this time is we were responding to a possible gas leak and right now we are working to make it safe. That is the information i have at this time. The situation at this time remains unsafe and that is why residents remain evacuated and the area is cordoned off. Again we are on the scene working to make it safe and our crews are on the scene and well be there until the work is done. Mike before we let you go what would you advice neighbors or other residents, not necessarily in this area but surrounding perimeter of this particular township stafford township we heard from the mayor and he said open the windows and stay away from the area any word of advice to neighbors that are watching but have concerns because they are part of the township . I would say just you know keep a safe distance let our crews do the work they need to do to make it safe. They are there making it safe as we speak and just to be very careful in the area and give them the space to do what they need to do. Okay mike kinney new Jersey Natural Gas, thank you for checking in by phone. As we look to chopper 6 hd five employees were taken to the hospital after the home exploded on oak avenue the situation is still not under control, this area is considered a threat and neighbors are not allowed back in this area or people coming from work or children coming from school this area will remain cordoned off for much of the day as gas employees try to clear the scene and make it safer following this house explosion. More breaking news now, the search continues for a delaware father accuses of kidnapping his daughter. Police say that Michael Trotta took his daughter after assaulting the mother. We heard an emotional plea from the childs mother and Annie Mccormick joins us live from Newcastle Police headquarters. Reporter rick, Authorities Say that Michael Trotta was last spotted at a rest stop in mount laurel, new jersey in a bright red colored suv probably a ford explorer. Initially they thought he was headed to new york city but now they expanded the search to several states they are concerned about that little girls safety authorities be the little girls mother are pleading for her safe return home. My heart is broken and im begging anybody that knows where she is or him, or whoever is helping them to please bring her home. I dont care how he does it bring her home or call somebody and let us know where she. Dawn barkus gave a plea for her 3yearold daughter, elinor trotta, she says that elinors father Michael Trotta assaulted her at their home in newcastle on monday and then took the couples daughter can and Delaware State Police issued an amber alert and then spotted the red mazda and they found the car in the little girls neighborhood and they towed the car to police. Newcastle county police say that amber alerts have expanded to several states. We have to followup any and all locations that he has family in, we are doing that through the fbi and field agents as we speak. In a craigslist add, it shows the father and daughter with a post saying please help me fight for my daughter. Michael trotta is 58, 160 pounds and a scruffy beard and clothing and elinor was last scene with a purple puffy coat and frozen sneakers. They have not said anything about the relationship between elinors parents, but because of what transpired last night he faces kidnapping and carjacking charges but as for other charges is he known to Police Previously before the eventses of last night. If have you any information are you urged to call 911 or 1800tips333. Annie thank you. Police say a driving mistake led to this accident in ardmore, a woman hit the accelerateor instead of the break and her suv went airborne at the accura dealership at lancaster avenue one person was taken to the hospital in critical condition, the investigation into the crash is ongoing. Developing news from california 28 people have been hurt in a crash involving a commuter train the metro slam nood a truck, and the collision happened 65 miles northwest of los angeles 9 00 our time. The truck then burst into flames, police say they caught the driver fleeing the wreckage and they are now questioning him. Well have more on this story coming up at 12 30. Turning to accuweather, we are below freezing after communities saw record cold overnight. Chopper 6 hd is over the Delaware River and we are over the stretch of very uncomfortable conditions, for more on that lets head to the big board and david murphy. Starting out in record territory, philadelphia got down to 7 degrees, we missed the record by 5 degrees in the city, but allentown, 8 degrees below zero is where we wound up this morning and the record was 4, and 6 degrees down in reading, the old record was 3, but we made it to 3 below this morning. Tied the record of 6 in wilmington and in the poconos 15 degrees below zero. Than is a record. On average, hour by hour have been 16. 5 degrees below average and six of the last dozen mornings we woke up to Single Digits. This afternoon 21 degrees in philadelphia, as you look at these numbers in the 20s and teens yes its cold and not a lot of wind, we dont have to worry about big deal windchills but well only add 1 to 3 degrees to these numbers. In philadelphia a high of 24 and look to double that to get to the average high of 46 degrees, the low tonight is not in the Single Digits well only go to 19 as you take a look at wide view of storm tracker, out to the west, its cold in places like detroit and chicago but out in kansas city and omaha there is milder air and well get that in our laps tomorrow afternoon but how long does this milder trend last . Ill have that coming up in the accuweather forecast. Back to breaking news out of ocean county new jersey a massive explosion, leveled a Single Family home, there is a large scale evacuation in this area as the gas company tries to stop the flow of gas to the flames that resulted from the explosion here in ocean county new jersey. We are monitoring the situation on air and online. [ male announcer ] approaching medicare eligibility . Dont put off checking out your Medicare Options until 65. Now is a good time to get the ball rolling. 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David henry is now at scene where the fire is under control. What is the latest . Reporter firefighters continue to pour water on the building it was burning well until a short while ago, it was declared under control at 8 30 this morning, it went to three alarms and shut down the l during the height of the rush hour, firefighters battled the elements along with the raging flames and the water they poured on to the fire quickly froze and getting enough water became a problem and many fire hydrants in the area were frozen solid. They had to hunt for useable hydrants and run a lot of hose. We know where the hide ranlts are, we switched to another hydrant. It was not a direct threat to the l but septa had them shut down. L in the area fearing it could cause a short circuit. Its running through the area now but the dolphin station remains closed. A fire broke out at a Rainbow Clothing store near a payless shoe store. Apartments above the stores were unoccupied. Nobody was injured despite the coating of ice around the scene firefighters were given warming breaks throughout the morning. Thanks to septa we are rotating our members to stay warm and second alarmers who help with coffee and soup to help to stay warm. Firefighters battling this blaze are doing so right next door to a grim reminder of how difficult their jobs can be this was the site of an abandoned factory that went up in flames two years ago two firefighters were killed in this fire when that wall back there collapsed on them. David henry channel 6 action news. Thank you. Well take a quick break and have more news after this. And chopper 6 live over breaking news story over stafford township ocean county. A home leveled here this is the unit block of oak avenue when the home exploded after 1 30 this morning, there were reports of a gas leak and 75 to 100 homes were evacuated and this area is cordoned off and we heard from officials from the gas company, five employees, workers on the scene were taken to the hospital with some type of injuries we know five people were hurt and no residents were home at the time when the home exploded. Looking live from sky 6 hd this area still cordoned off to residents and traffic and it will be that way much of the day as the gas company tries to make this area safe again for those that live in this area stafford township new jersey, in ocean county. And new stories tonight at 4 00 a Deputy Attorney general was for a prank. And zendaya is saying critique of her oscar look is racist. And david murphy will have your sevenday forecast when action news comes right back. David here with a check of accuweather with another bitterly cold day. Stormtracker 6 live double scan showing us that we are dry and as we take a live look outside, lots of sun pouring down across the region there is sky 6 hd unfortunately we still have the chunky icy look to the river and you can see that stuff floating on by and heading south, probably make more isolator today. Philadelphias temperature 21 degrees, and your dew point is below the zero mark, negative 2 and a real big spread between the two numbers. That means the air is dry, winds are calm and they will turn more from the south and moisten up the atmosphere a bit and well see more clouds. 19 in reading and 17 in wilmington and teens in trenton and dover as well and low 20s everywhere else. Winds are calm in philadelphia and even in the worst spots dropping down from the northwest right now and circulating out of south as we go into the afternoon and into the nighttime period. Again we have enjoyed sunshine early and we are beginning to cloud up as the at atmosphere moistens up and well transition to cloudy skies later in the day. Up in allentown and partly sunny and cold and not a lot of wind in the Lehigh Valley but high of 18 and windchills making it feel 5 or 6 degrees colder at times. Atlantic city partly sunny and k0e8d, a 5 to 10 Miles Per Hour wind overall at the shore and philadelphia 25 degrees and cold and well below our average high of 46 and winds shifrt out of the northwest at 10 to 16 Miles Per Hour that is nothing like yesterday when we had the gusts up around 30 tonight the winds continue to fall back but the clouds build and we do to 19 but not nearly as cold as the single digit cold we had in spots and a chance of a flurry here or there. The evening commute it looks like a gradual dissension from the mid20s to low 20s, 23 by 5 30 and 7 0022 and down to the low of 19. Bottoming out and sitting steady with the numbers. A good idea for the afternoon or evening is to find a car wash and get your car done we dont have any additional precipitation until suntd night puddles from snow and this is all the cakes on salt and now is a good time to do it. Temperatures to the west are cold here in cincinnati and chicago, we had milder air to the west and a frontal boundary coming in and that starts to scoop up milder air here too. The milder temperatures to the west are right ahead of this front as it cruises towards the east well get the southerly flow to the 30s tomorrow and unfortunately back into the 20s starting thursday the seven day, a high of 24 today bundle up and not a lot of wind and cold. 35 tomorrow and clouds mixing with sun and a scattered flurry or spotty snow shower is possible. And then back into the 20s, both thursday and friday if you can make it into the weekend, we get a sunny day on saturday and low 30s, how about sunday up to 48 degrees, remember how last sunday got mild, the same thing happens this week and the precipitation holds off until night and that should be mainly rain. Coming up we continue to cover the breaking news story out of ocean nearly 100 homes are evacuated after an explosion leveld this house in stafford township, new jersey action news is on the scene working to bring you a live report right now, dont go anywhere more action news is straight ahead. Back to breaking news out of ocean county three people were injured after a gas explosion leveled a house in stafford township new jersey, right now 75 to 100 homes are evacuated and route 9 a major thoroughfare is shut down in both directions. We are looking live from chopper 6 hd we see the billowing smoke from where the house once stood and we are seeing flames for much of the morning and we are hoping that the fire is now extinguished and we are just seeing the remnant of billowing smoke from oak avenue and as chopper 6 hd pulls outs you can get an idea of the residential area, close to 100 homes evacuated after an odor of gas here this morning. The gas crew as rived on the scene to fix a leak and then the home exploded and now Gas Companies as well as fire officials are determining when it will be safe enough for those people to return here. Lets go to the stafford mayor can you give us an update on what is happening here at 59 oak avenue. Okay we mentioned we have everything evacuate from the area the gas leak is not contained yet, the only ones in the area is the gas company, they are not letting anyone in there until they isolated problem and get the gas leak shut off. Its not shut down yet. Its obviously still a dangerous situation may