An object that sparked a gun call and put three Brampton schools in a hold and secure Tuesday morning is believed to be a lighter, school officials say.

The order was issued at about 8:30 a.m. after a woman told police she saw three males armed with what appeared to be a firearm in front of Central Peel Secondary School.

In response to the gun call, Central Peel, Agnes Taylor Public School and Madoc Drive Public School were placed in a hold and secure as a precaution as police searched for the males.

Officers searched Central Peel Secondary School but did not locate a firearm.

A Peel District School Board spokesperson said the object, believed to have been a lighter, was not found on a Central Peel student.

Students and staff were safe during the hold and secure, school officials said.

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