By CHRISTOPHER?BOBBY?and DARCIE?LORENO Tribune Chronicle

GUSTAVUS - A Trumbull County Sheriff's detective said it might take some time before the body of a man, who was electrocuted early Monday, could be identified.

Major Tom Stewart said Ohio Edison workers discovered the body of the man, who was believed to be trying to steal copper for scrap from an electrical substation near the intersection of Gardner-Barclay and Stoddard-Hayes Roads.

Stewart said the man was burned beyond recognition after scaling the barbed-wire fencing.

Gustavus Trustee William Palette, who also is a fire lieutenant, was one of the first on the scene of the fire. He said when he arrived the substation was engulfed in flames. Fire departments from Johnston and Kinsman also arrived to assist with the blaze which caused extensive damage to the substation.

Ohio Edison officials, who indicated there were 2,000 customers, including those in Kinsman without power for most of the morning, was also called to the scene but had to wait until the fire was under control before checking the damage.

Palette said most of the township and sections of neighboring Kinsman were without power throughout the night shortly after 1 a.m. and into early Monday morning.

''We had a lot of power outages. At one time everyone in the township was probably without power. When I left my home at 6 this morning there was no power. My wife called me later and said it came back on,'' Palette said Monday afternoon.

Power was being restored throughout the morning to different areas of the township.

In addition, the fire department received calls from residents at eight homes along Davis Peck Road where there were reports of people smelling smoke in their homes.

Reports indicate a few residents reported wall paper and carpet burning,

Palette said many of the major dairy farms were without power but Palette noted most have back up generators they were able to use.

Palette said there was no fire damage at many of the homes but many household appliances, such as televisions and computers, were damaged during the power surge.

Gustavus Fiscal Officer Laura Hall said she noticed that power Monday morning was not at full capacity and that she was checking her computer and other office equipment after noticing a burning odor.

The victim is tentatively identified as a white male in his 30s, five feet six and weighing 160 and 170 pounds. He has tattoos of a skull and flames on one of his forearms and the word ''trouble'' tattooed on the back of one of his shoulders.

Anyone with information on the identity is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 330-675-7087.