Update: Jay Leno suffers “serious” burns in car fire
Jay Leno “could have died in the fire that erupted in his Burbank garage—it was that serious—and we’ve learned it was a friend of his who may have saved his life,” reports TMZ.
“Jay tells TMZ from his hospital bed that he was working on his 1910 White Steam Car [below] in his famed garage this past Saturday, fixing a clogged fuel line. He says there was a fuel leak and gasoline sprayed on his face and hands. Almost simultaneously a spark triggered an explosion, setting the comedian on fire. Jay, who was rushed to a nearby burn center by ambulance, says he expects to be hospitalized for somewhere between 5 and 10 days.”
Leno said his “quick-thinking buddy Dave was right there and jumped on him, quickly smothering the flames. The left side of Jay’s face was badly burned … His hands were burned as well. He says he’s now dealing with third-degree burns and may need skin grafts. The burns did not damage his eyes or his ears.”
Steam cars use gasoline or kerosene to fuel the burner, which heats the boiler, to generates the steam needed to propel the car.
Leno is now in an L.A. burn center. He was in his Burbank garage in California where he stores his massive car collection when the fire happened. He was listed in stable condition as of this writing.
“I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am OK,” reads a statement from Leno to Variety. “Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.”
He was taken to the burn ward at Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles where he remains. Grossman Burn Centers “are plastic surgery-based medical centers of excellence specializing in the comprehensive treatment of burns—from acute care and reconstruction, to rehabilitation and psychological counseling,” says the Center’s website.
TMZ says Leno has cancelled all his engagements for two weeks. He was supposed to appear at the Financial Brand Forum on Sunday at the Aria in Las Vegas, but organizers said there was a “very serious medical emergency” that prevented him from showing.
Leno, 72, is of course the standup comic who hosted the Tonight Show on NBC until he retired to pursue his car-collecting hobby full-time. His knowledge of automobiles and motorcycles is near-encyclopedic. (He also owns multiple steam cars besides the 1910 White.) He hosts Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC, and a remake of Groucho Marx’s You Bet Your Life that is in syndication.
We’ll update the story as more information comes in. We wish our columnist and friend a speedy recovery.
Best wishes for your speedy recovery, Jay.
Some bad luck Jay, wishing you a smooth power shift to recovery!
Jay, you are one of the greats! I true success who remained true to the same roots as all of us gear heads. We all wish you nothing but the best! Be well friend! Because you are a friend of us all.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Jay. When you left the Tonight Show, I stopped watching late night. These guys now are so one sided liberal. You kept your political leanings out of it like Carson did. God bless you Jay.
A P.S. to that Jay. Saw a Carson interview once where he said that if he aired his political views on the Tonight Show, he’d lose half his audience. Smart man. That’s why you were the King of late night after Carson. And I respect the fact that you work on your own cars. So again get well soon Jay!
From one Jay car gearhead to another, get well and slip back behind those steering wheels again! Let the cruising put the smiles back. Wishing you the best.
“Rolls, explodes, makes noise!” Get well quick, Jay!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Jay!
Best wishes Jay. Get well soon!
YOUR ONE OF MY FAVORITE CAR GUYS JAY! LOVE YOU MAN AND STAY STRONG AND HOPFULLY I CAN SEE YOU AND YOUR COLLECTION WITH THAT OTHER FAN DENNIS GAGE FROM MY CLASSIC CAR ONE DAY!… JONATHAN
Jay Leno, praying for you to have a quick recovery.
I wish you a speedy recovery. Anyone with multiple Elans is a good car guy.
Sorry to hear of anyone getting hurt in the old car hobby. Get well soon your my favorite comedian and fellow gearhead. We always need to be aware that accidents can happen anytime. Glad your ok.
Speedy recovery Jay from one car guy to another! Best wishes from Arizona! An unpleasant reminder that gasoline is very volatile. I have fueled many a car, motorcycle, truck, UTV, lawnmower and other gas-powered equipment from various fuel containers and thought if this thing lights off, I’m screwed!
The response to this article is a testament to how much Jay Leno is respected as a “car guy” and a person.
I know you will get well soon, and I look forward to your continued contributions to Hagerty’s magazine.
Get well soon Jay