Courts

Onalaska man admits to starting fire while making meth

Published

4 years ago

August 25, 2020

Brad Williams

An apartment fire in Onalaska apparently was caused by a homemade meth lab.

Matt Onsrud is now charged with manufacturing meth, after calling Onalaska police on Monday to turn himself in.

Police say Onsrud accidentally started a fire during the weekend while trying to produce meth at his apartment on Redwood Street.

The fire caused minor damage.

Police officers went to the apartment Monday night to check the scene, assisted by the sheriff’s department and firefighters.

Hazardous materials were removed from the apartment.

Onsrud has been released on a signature bond.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.