Jay Leno, 72, popular comedian and ex-talk show host, was seriously injured in an explosion in his garage on Saturday, November 12, in Los Angeles, California. 

Recovering from his injuries in the hospital, Leno told media that he is doing fine and that he hopes to heal in a couple of weeks and be back on his feet.  He confirmed that he had received third degree burns due to a gasoline fire and required skin grafts. He has also undergone surgery.

Leno, who loves vintage cars, was working in his garage on a 1907 White Steam Car on Saturday, which was found to have a clogged fuel line. Leno revealed to TMZ media that a leak caused gasoline to spray onto his hands and face. A spark caused the explosion that set the car on fire and burned him. Luckily, a companion was nearby and was able to smother the flames and save Leno’s life.

Leno was admitted to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles for treatment. A hospital spokesperson said on Monday that the performer was receiving treatment for burn injuries to his face and hands and reassured everyone that he was in stable condition.

Jay Leno is famous for hosting NBC’s The Tonight Show from 1992, when he succeeded Johnny Carson, and left in 2009. His hilarious monologues can still be seen on YouTube. He quit the talk show to start his own show titled The Jay Leno Show. The show did not do well, and NBC reinstated Leno as the host of The Tonight Show in 2010. He was the host for four years, until Jimmy Fallon took over in 2014 after Leno quit. 

In 2015, Leno launched a new CNBC show, Jay Leno’s Garage, which was popular, especially with vintage car lovers, and ran for seven seasons. In 2021, Leno became the host of the revived show, You Bet Your Life.