Firefighters had to use heavy-duty cutting tools to free three children who accidentally locked themselves inside a gun safe in Sterling Heights.

The kids, who were 3 and 4 years old, were hot but otherwise physically OK after being freed.

The newly delivered safe was in a garage on the 13000 block of Maidstone Court when the kids apparently crawled inside it late Sunday afternoon and it locked, Sterling Heights Fire Chief Chris Martin said. The instructions and combination information were in the safe with them.

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With the day's temperatures in the high 80s, firefighters acted quickly.

"We used the Jaws of Life to pry some spots open, and cut with reciprocating saws with good blades" to remove the top of the safe, Martin said.

The children were freed after about 12 minutes. Their parents were advised to give them a cool shower. They were checked medically at the scene and needed no medical treatment.

Contact staff writer Ann Zaniewski at 313-222-6594 or azaniewski@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AnnZaniewski.