BELFAST — For the second day in a row, a bomb threat forced the evacuation and closing of the Belfast Area High School.

Police Chief Allen Weaver said five written threats were found in various locations within the high school at mid-morning Tuesday. The notes contained the same threat that was left on an administrator’s answering machine the day before — that a bomb had been planted in the school and would explode at noon.

“The five notes all said the bomb would go off at noon, and that this was the real deal,” Weaver said from his post outside the school.

Weaver said two notes were found by students, the other three by Assistant Principal Butch Arthurs. All were left in hallways and appeared to be written by the same person. The notes were sent to the state police crime laboratory to check for fingerprints.

School officials immediately evacuated the 600-member student body to the football field, then marched them downtown to the Tarratine Club on Main Street. From there they were released for the day. Tuesday’s balmy weather allowed administrators to clear the building without giving students the opportunity to retrieve their jackets and coats.

“I know several students were upset that they couldn’t get their coats and car keys, but they need to understand that all of these incidents have to be taken seriously until the building is determined to be safe to our satisfaction,” Weaver said.

“We can’t allow students or anyone else back into this building until we’re sure. I understand it will cause inconveniences, but I have to put safety first.”

Members of the police and fire departments secured the building and made a visual check inside. Nothing suspicious was detected. A state police officer and bomb-sniffing dog were expected to arrive by early evening.

In the event no explosives are found, the school will reopen and classes will resume today. The missed day will be made up at a later date.