allegheny come together. that created a scene of other gridlock. it has been a tough afternoon. tuesday night the big story on "action news" tonight. is the latest on the peco substation fire. sara bloomquist is live at the fire command center. christie is live at the scene at the traffic nightmare. saras lets start with you. >> reporter: the command center is getting bigger and they will keep working to restore power to the tens of thousands still without it. if you look at the top of the hill that is where the fire was burning and we no longer see the thick black smoke but in terms of power it's going to be a while. chopper 6 hd was overhead within the hour as firefighters were able to pour water on the flames. it did burn for about three hours, the first call of wires burning came in at 2:08 this

afternoon. and firefighters tried to put a flame retardant chemical on the flames but with the wires energized it just reunited. huge plumes of spoke blanketed north philadelphia and some were evacuated. the fire commissioner explained why the fire burned so long. before they could douse it with water. >> we are going to end up putting the fire out the old fashion way without water but we have to make sure the power is shut off. so we have unmanned water streams and putting up a water pipe with the aerial ladders and when we have confirmation that the power is off from peco we can start to put out the fire. that happened shortly after 5:00. hazmat teams were called and 75 firefighters on the scene and

the commissioner was asked if the smoke was toxic and he told reporters it was something to be concerned about and get out of its path but less toxic due to the change in construction of the power grids, you see the flames that were burning, we spoke with one neighbor saying what others were echoing, concerned about what they were seeing. >> we understand there say safety issue but no one is answering our questions, give us an idea. will our services be rerouted to another grid or substation, we are concerned. we have groceries and children and i have a sick husband at home. what is going on? nobody wants to answer any of our questions. >> now, at the height of this close to 30,000 people were without power and now it's down to 24,641 and for those people the commissioner says it's a while before power is restored.

sara bloomquist, channel 6 "action news." >> sara, thank you. lets switch to christie at the convergence point where traffic was gridlocked this afternoon. what is the latest from the traffic and power issues? >> reporter: tens of thousands of people are without power and on the other side of this truck peco is over there waiting to try to fix all of this. you see that the traffic light at hunting park avenue and henry avenue are still dark and police are on scene trying to direct traffic and the a headache for commuters all evening. >> it's crazy. >> it's like four different ways to go. >> oh my god it's insane. like i'm trying to get back to work. >> confused car and bus drivers tried to make their way through allegheny and hunting park. >> no lights no nothing, i don't know how this is going to happen. >> the massive intersection is

one of many traffic lights knocked off the grid by a massive fire at a peco substation. >> it's down and we condition cook anything, lee jiang serving customers at his restaurant two and one cafe, the longer his business is in the dark the longer his merchandise will spoil. >> we are waiting and hoping. for me temperature feels all right, we are good but if not we have to throw it away. >> for those trying to get home. >> i'm okay being patient. >> yes patience definitely if you are coming through this intersection again. these are police officers trying to keep the interests section open. and peco is on scene and it's unclear how long it will take to get service back.

>> after a third attempted kidnapping and robbery yesterday all in newcastle county. police converged on the reserve at walk apartments yesterday after a woman reported she was approached by a man showing a handgun, bob brooks is live at the apartment complex and bob you have the update. >> reporter: what is scary about this is that the suspect, every time he struck he is so well covered up and masked they don't even know his race yet. there is no real trips of him. where he struck the same thin as the other attacks, he follows the women as they go foo their homes. >> investigators didn't waste any time. they took fingerprints and searched for clues, they say the same man that kidnapped two women and assaulted them last month struck again. >> this will take the work of a

resident who sees something suspicious -- >> detectives say that he struck at the preserve deacon apartments on wall drive. >> when he reached for the door he came up from behind and held a gun to her head and said this is a stickup. >> she was ambushed walking into her building. >> he buzzed in and buzzed the inside where her boyfriend was, when her boyfriend answered the suspect took off. roberson an exmarine says he went after him. >> i went into my truck and to the entrance and went left and right and no luck. >> you can walk straight in and the cops say this is where he was waiting for the victim. the women were sexually assaulted and forced to drive to atm's taking out cash and last night the victim escaped and they are doing what they can and need the community's help to find this guy.

>> it could be one of our family members or your family members who is the next victim. with that said we are doing everything we can. >> again, they don't know much about the suspect it will be a community effort to get him off the streets. reporting live in newark, bob brooks, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. philadelphia police are reviewing surveillance video as they search for two men that shot a cab driver late last night. the 54-year-old victim was plating an unlicensed taxi at 52nd and market in philadelphia. he tells police that two men got into his car and demanded money and one suspect pistol whipped him and the other shot him twice. >> the police chief of media borough and the delaware county da announced at rest of a man suspected of being a serial child rapist be lawmen want to know if there are more victims

yet to be accounted for. john rawlins is live at the 100 block of east baker and media borough and you would agree of unspeakable crimes. >> reporter: that is true jim. in this case the defendant already pleaded guilty to significant crimes and still authorities when out of their way today to stress there are additional victims out there of a man that began targeting teens more than two years ago. >> he gets them into the apartment and entices them with alcohol and drugs. >> talking about the suspect who last month pleaded guilty or no couldn't test to crimes against kids. he met up with teens at glen providence park an at the playground at media elementary. >> it came in as a misdemeanor

came dealing with marijuana charges. >> and what happened in the apartment the allegations turned serious. >> in total eight cases of corruption of minors and four sexual assaults. >> this concerns the drugs and control and the sex assaults concern girls of 12 to 15 years old. >> and he lures her back from the media elementary school playground. lures her back to his apartment. and plays video games with her and then attacks her and forcibly rapes her. >> and authorities say repeatedly there could be additional rick victims and they made a plea to parents of teens that may have crossed paths with the defendant. >> talk to your children, ask if anything happened. they may not feel comfortable and may be concerned but we would like to speak with them.

>> well, the suspect was sentenced to 13.5 to 20 years in prison for the 12 cases and is now at greaterford prison and they believe there are others he harmed and hope they come forward. channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. mother divine the leader of a religious sect based on the main line died at 82. she pass add way at her wood mont estate on saturday. her late husband found the late peace mission and once attracted a million members around the world. followers worshipped father divine who preached racial equality and celebration of the kingdom of heaven mother divine continued her work after his death at 65. >> and coming up on "action

news" new don'ters add to the reward to find the vandals of the destruction at the mt. carmel jewish cemetery. and the wildcats remain humble as they get ready to make a run to repeat as national champions. and a round of wet weather moving in and by friday morning we are likely dealing with snow. details on that and the brutal weekend to follow.

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49 drug dealers in chester

county are round up and indicted in the operation crushed ice, the chester county da says that king pin richard matery ran it from behind bars and his sales increased following his release in 2016 and 48 of his alleged come polices were arrested. and that they sold men, heroin and cocaine and marijuana and prescription drugs here and arizona and puerto rico. and the reward standed at $74,000 for an arrest and conviction for the vandals that desecrated a jewish cemetery. the damage to the mt. carmel cemetery was discovered on february 26th, dozens of head stones were knocked over or seriously damaged. three centers in new jersey are teaming up to make sure that

local jewish families feel safe. rabbis are visiting homes and businesses to make sure they have one a land written parchment control mounted off homes and businesses and that is protects families from hate and harm. >> many people tell us that knowing they have this in their home gives them a feeling that they are more safe and more secure and we are glad to do that. >> the campaign will take place throughout the coming days and >> the campaign will take place throughout the coming days and weeks. prodders, shuckersers, and sniffers, [ inhales ] all giant produce is triple checked. farm, crate, and store. we're focusing on fresh...

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if villanova is going to get back to the national championship how they do is not crucial but may help with the seeding. >> you want to play well starting now so you can make a nice run through march and the beginning of april. the big east basketball tournament begins tomorrow. villanova won't play until thursday and they will face st. johns or georgetown and they

hope it's the beginning of a repeat. jaime apody is covering the champs. >> jenkins for the championship! >> it will forever be known around here as the shot. to everyone but chris jenkins. >> what shot? i made a lot of shots. >> he remains hungry and humble. >> i try not to let the shot creep into my mind and i want to help the team and thinking about that shot does nothing for us. >> someone that hits the biggest shot in college history if not basketball college history and not mention it. i have never heard him mention it once. >> hart says that is not easy because everywhere he goes he is the guy that hit the shot. >> we go to get something to eat and everybody is like there is

chris jenkins. >> i was just a kid tagging along. >> they made josh take the picture. >> josh says he will gladly take all the pictures he needs to if it mean the wildcats repeat as national champions, the top seed, and they last year in the finals and can't wait to get started. >> it's a one game tournament from here on out. if you don't take care of business you are home watching it. they plan on giving it their best shot again. the nfl so-called legal tampering period has begun they are allowed to negotiate with free agents but not sign. and two desperate hockey teams meet in buffalo, the flyers are three points out of a wild card spot and the sabers are five points back. the flyers still exude a ton of

confidence. >> thalast year was the same situation and the playoffs game, and to be in the situation and we have been here before and we can't overlook it and go out and play some hockey. >> today the phillies welcomed a guest instructor to spring training. one that could make a difference. player josh halladay is now coach halladay. is he willing to share everything to help this ball club. >> whatever concerns they may have if any, or just talking about things that help me be successful. so you know, it can cover a range of things but you know i just for me it's just a pleasure to be able to help out. >> and phillies and tigers in florida, kendrick is just two hits in 17 at-bats but breaks out today.

the new left fielder going with the rbi single in the fourth inning and the phillies win 11-6. we are 27 days away from the season opener. >> thank you. philadelphia union is getting ready to kick off the 2017 season at home. and the team paid a visit to philadelphia mayor jim kenney today and he declared today the philadelphia union march to soccer day. and jay sugar man presented the mayor with his own jersey and the union play the first opener on sunday against the toronto club. hi

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so what is this about snow?

on friday? >> friday morning looks like we could see snow now. this comes off of three days in the 60s so hard to stick on roads. >> it will melt almost immediately. >> sunday though still looks farther to the south. mother nature is listening to you. stormtracker 6 live double scan showing that we have some showers that are working from the west and they will be moving in as we head through the overnight hours. temperature-wise though, what a rebound. sunday our high only 38 degrees. and yesterday up to 51 and today soared up to 67 degrees and that is 17 degrees above normal. and we'll keep temperatures in the 60s the next two days. so right now, 65 in philadelphia and the same in wilmington and 62 in trenton and notice the warm front is struggling to make it north of the lehigh valley. and still 50 degrees in allentown and 46 in the poconos

and satellite 6 along with action radar showing that we did get the showers this morning with the warm front and a few breaks of sunshine and more clouds and sun and this is the next batch of rain arriving ahead of a weak cold front that moves through the overnight hours, so what this means tonight lots of clouds and showers around and the temperatures really don't drop much at all. 48 in the suburbs, 52 in center city warmer than the normal high for this time of year, future tracker showing you don't need a thick jacket but you need the umbrella. the steadiest is north of philadelphia overnight we have with that cold front a round of intense downpours and could be gusty winds and a rumble of thunder and 5:00 snow north of the poconos and then look what happens by 7:30 in the morning and the rain has really moved east of philadelphia and then by 10:30, the sunshine is back it will be windy but mild tomorrow with a high of 63 degrees on

thursday we hold on to temperatures in the 60s, and 61 but this is an arctic boundary, with low pressure known as a short wave. what this will do is bring in pressure, and the same time pulling in cold air and that means the opportunity for a snowy friday morning commute. kind of bad timing with that. so the exclusive accuweather seven-day forecast tomorrow it's windy and morning clouds and showers giving way to sunshine and 63 degrees and thursday a nice day away from the boundary and sunny and breezy, 61 and friday morning is when we'll see wet snow mixing with rain and the afternoon high 41 degrees and the problem is the timing, the steadiest likely will be during the rush hour. again roads mainly wet but a grassy accumulation is likely and the falling snow could cause problems for visibility friday morning and temperatures colder this weekend and last weekend,

saturday 33, spring forward saturday night and given day light savings time and the storm continues to trend south and if that keeps up it's dry here and on monday, still chilly 43 and tuesday it's cloudy and milder with a possibility of rain and a high of 51 degrees. a system early friday morning a lot of times they tend to actually overperform and they are morrow bust than the models produce or indicate. but i'll have an update on "action news" tonight at 11:00. abc world news tonight is david muir is next on channel 6. "action news" continues at 10:00 on phl 17. and join us for "action news" at 11:00 on channel 6. for the entire "action news" team i'm jim gardner we hope you'll join us at 11:00.

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tonight, several breaking stories. the first, the backlash on capitol hill as we come on the air. the new plan revealed to replace obamacare. president trump backing the plan, but tonight, there is already revolt from some within the republican party who call this obamacare light. while millions fear they could lose their coverage while 20 million americans wait for a clear answer. also breaking, the stunning reveal. is this a cia security breach? wikileaks and thousands of documents. do they reveal how the cia can break into smartphones, computers and even tvs? the deadly collision. several dead tonight. multiple injuries. the tornado outbreak. at least 30 reported already. winds up to 150 miles per hour,