Long time car connoisseur Jay Leno burned off parts of his face in while working on a vintage car in Burbank area garage on Saturday.
The former “Tonight Show” host was working on a rare steam engine car from his multi-million dollar automobile collection, when he was sprayed with gasoline and it somehow ignited.
The late-night comedian was aided by the Burbank Fire Department Battalion in the early afternoon, and transported to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles for treatment of the non-life threatening burns to his face and hands.
According to Fox News, he was admitted to the facility the same day, and is “in stable condition.”
A spokesperson for the hospital relayed the message that Leno “is in good humor and is touched by all the inquiries into his condition and well wishes.
He wants to let everyone know he is doing well and is in ‘the best burn center in the United States.’”
One of Leno’s staff mechanics, George Swift, said that the former television host was “in great spirits,” but his recovery was “going to take a while.”
He also noted that Leno “never lost consciousness” during the incident and is “going to be fine.”
Leno echoed the sentiment, in a statement on Monday. “I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire,” he remarked. “I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.”
The public was first alerted to the Hollywood icon’s scary ordeal, when he bowed out of an appearance at a Las Vegas financial conference on Sunday, due to a “serious medical emergency.”
At the time, the media speculated that Leno could have had a heart attack, as he disclosed that he had been diagnosed with high cholesterol and a blockage of the muscle in a 2019 video.
“There’s a lot of people walking around like that, they’re just time bombs. You’ve got all this cholesterol, you don’t realize it until it actually hits, you know?” Leno remarked in the video.
“It’s like in a car, if even one piece of dirt gets in the eye of the needle of the jet, and boom and no more gas comes through. And that’s what happens with your heart.”
It’s unsurprising that Leno would liken the human heart to a car engine, as he is an avid collector of rare and antique automobiles.
The value of his 280 car collection is estimated to be worth upwards of $150 million, and boasts several highly expensive models.
Leno owns a 1928 Bentley Speed 6 valued between $3 to $4 million, a $4.8 million Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, a $12 million McLaren F1, and a 1934 Duesenberg Walker Coup worth $20 million, amongst many others.
The comedian is so passionate about cars, he retired from his late-night show in 2014 to launch “Jay Leno’s Garage,” a series that focuses on his search across the United States for more unique cars to add to his vast collection.
Fellow comedians shared their well wishes for the television legend on social media.
“Jay Leno, we LOVE YOU! Heal up soon my friend. We are all sending our best wishes on a speedy recovery!” Rob Schneider posted on behalf of himself and fellow funnymen Kevin Nealon, David Spade, and Adam Sandler.
“I am hoping for super fast healing for @jayleno, who made me laugh till I cried with road stories,” Paula Poundstone added.