BETHEL — Telstar High and Middle schools were placed on a brief “hold” Tuesday morning following a rumor of a firearm in the building.

The hold, which keeps all students in place, lasted from 11:31 to 11:50 a.m., while school officials and Oxford County Sheriff deputies determined the threat was a hoax, Maine School Administrative District 44 Superintendent David Murphy said.

In addition to the two schools, which are in the same building on state Route 26, Crescent Park Elementary School at 19 Crescent St. in the town center was also placed on hold as a precaution, Murphy said.

A nearby deputy arrived at the school within minutes, with two more quickly following. With the help of school officials, deputies conducted security sweeps and determined the school was safe. The hold was lifted and the schools reopened, Chief Deputy James Urquhart of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Notices of the incident were sent to all parents, Murphy said.

The Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation and is working with school officials on the incident, Urquhart added.

The department provides law enforcement coverage for Bethel from its office on Parkway Road.