Suring man confesses to six Oconto County fires

OCONTO COUNTY - Oconto County officials say a 28-year-old Suring man has confessed to intentionally starting six fires in the area.

According to a criminal complaint, Drew Christensen admitted to starting fires at Klondike Church, Everbreeze Bar, Jaded Bar, a garage and a trailer home.

Christensen has been charged for the Jan. 22, 2012 garage fire and the Aug. 5, 2011 trailer home fire. Both fires were in the Town of Bagley.

No one was inside the garage or trailer home when the fires started.

The damage from the garage fire is estimated at $54,000. The trailer home fire damage is estimated between $20,000 and $25,000.

According to the criminal complaint, Christensen caused fires in other counties as well; however, they are not listed.

At Klondike Community Church, volunteers and other workers have been trying to restore the 100-year-old building since it went up in flames in March.

“This is one fire on the list of quite a few from what it sounds like,” said Don Holtger, the owner of the church building.

A few miles down the road from the church, Dennis Lasky has also been busy picking up the pieces. Lasky owns the garage that Christensen is charged with setting on fire. Lasky had to build a new garage.

“It was stressful,” said Lasky. “I didn't know what happened. I didn't have full coverage. I lost everything.”

Just around the corner from Lasky's garage, Jaded Bar also dealt with a fire twice.

“There was fires all over the place,” said Lasky. “It was like nonstop.”

Oconto County District Attorney Jon Evans says the Department of Justice currently has about 40 unsolved fires in the area. He says the department is investigating whether Christensen had a role in any of them.

“There's probably 20 in Oconto County in the northern part and there's perhaps 20 in other counties,” said Evans.

A lot of questions remain unanswered for the people in the area, but none larger than what the motive might have been behind the fires.

“At least now we know that we don't have to worry about maybe somebody coming back and finishing the job,” said Holtger. “That's been a concern.”

For the people at Klondike Church, the concern can now be more focused on fixing what could be up to $600,000 in damages.

“It's starting to take on more of a construction site feel than a fire feel,” said Holtger.

Church leaders hope the normal service feel will be ready before next spring.

Christensen is being held in the Oconto County Jail. On Monday, his bond was set at $500,000.