Gym members, staff and a Drummondville family faced emergency disruption and a potential safety threat when an altercation and a separate residential fire drew heavy responses — Sunday at 9: 00 pm ET — after an argument at the Proactif gym and, earlier the same day, a small electrocuted animal sparked smoke in a home, vingt55.
Drummondville family on rue William saw sparks and smoke near heating at 12: 27 pm ET
Occupants of a family residence on rue William noticed sparks and a beginning of smoke coming from a wall near the home’s heating system and called 911 at 12: 27 pm ET, prompting a fire-department response. The discovery immediately raised concern for a possible electrical fire spreading inside the walls.
Firefighters were dispatched to verify the situation and found that the residents had already identified the cause: a small rodent had entered behind an electrical outlet or installation and was electrocuted, which produced both smoke and flames near the heating equipment.
Because crews intervened quickly, the resulting fire remained limited; after safety checks and verifications, firefighters authorized the family to return to the residence once they were satisfied no ongoing risks persisted.
Sûreté du Québec arrests one person after Proactif gym altercation around 9: 00 pm ET
Clients and witnesses at the Proactif gym on boulevard René-Lévesque said the confrontation began inside the locker room and continued toward the main entrance, where two groups clashed and at least one person was injured in the hand and possibly the shoulder, prompting paramedics and multiple police vehicles to respond.
Sergeant Élizabeth Marquis-Guy, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec, confirmed the incident occurred around 9: 00 pm ET and that police arrested one individual at the scene. For now, the arrested person could face charges of assault.
The Sûreté du Québec noted that the altercation caused no serious injuries and that the initial suggestion of a possible knife being used does not appear corroborated; investigators will review surveillance images from nearby businesses and take statements from those detained and from customers to clarify the sequence of events.
Vingt55 on-site reporting: witness accounts and immediate precautions
Witnesses who spoke with vingt55 described two groups of individuals who argued and then came to blows, and some customers observed that the groups did not appear to share the same ethnic origin; those witnesses also said the gym was able to continue operations while police interviewed people on site.
From the residential fire report, the same on-site coverage stressed quick action by occupants and firefighters limited damage; the incident highlights seasonal risks when rodents seek refuge in homes and the value of checking access points and avoiding open doors.
Local advice included practical steps noted in the coverage: inspect exterior entry points, consider traps or protective barriers along walls, and address any signs of chewing or wiring exposure to reduce the chance of a repeat electrical ignition.
If investigators review surveillance footage and witness statements and find probable cause, formal charges may be filed against the person arrested by the Sûreté du Québec.
