Three stars of hit sitcom MODERN FAMILY had to be rescued by firefighters on Friday (01Mar13) after they were left trapped in an elevator for an hour.

Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson were stuck with a dozen other people when the lift jammed on the third floor of a hotel in Kansas City, Kansas.

Rescue workers from the Kansas City Fire Department had to make their way down from the 40th floor to free the stars, who remained upbeat by tweeting photos as well as a video of everyone trapped in the elevator shouting, "Get us out!"

Tyler Ferguson also shared a clip of firefighters helping Bowen climb a ladder out to safety, and wrote, "Finally made it out of the stuck elevator at the one hour mark. At least the firemen in K.C. are cute."

Stonestreet added, "I honestly handled being stuck in an elevator better than I thought. All Jesse Tyler did was pass wind."

As a result of the scare, the comedy stars ended up late for the Kids Night Out 2013 fundraiser they headlined for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City.