The comedian announced that Jay Leno was badly burned Saturday in a garage fire in Greater Los Angeles after one of his cars caught fire.
“I was badly burned by a gasoline fire. I’m fine and it only takes a week or two to get back on my feet,” Leno said in a statement to NBC News on Monday.
A representative for Renault said Renault was working in his garage when a car flashed on fire. The comedian has an estimated 180 cars and 160 motorcycles in his garage at Hollywood’s Burbank Airport, according to the DuPont Registry.
The garage employs mechanics and support staff to maintain and restore Leno’s collection of vehicles, and is also home to his company Big Dog Productions.
The garage has a reputation among car enthusiasts for its ability to restore vehicles in-house, and is the host of two shows called “Jay Leno’s Garage” – one of which is broadcast weekly on his 3.4 million subscribers’ YouTube channel, while his CNBC show features stars and their cars.
It was not immediately clear which vehicle was involved. Many of Leno’s vehicles, including steam-powered models and jet-powered cars, predate contemporary safety and efficiency standards.
The 72-year-old comedian and former “The Tonight Show” host canceled a show scheduled for Sunday night in Las Vegas after suffering a “very serious medical emergency.”
He was initially rushed to Burbank Hospital on Saturday and then to a burn center in Los Angeles, a person familiar with the matter told NBC News.
The veteran entertainer suffered burns to the left side of his face and was eventually taken to the Grossman Burn Center in West Hills, where he is still there, TMZ initially reported, and Leno’s representatives confirmed this. The representative said the flames did not penetrate Leno’s eyes or ears.
Leno is a luminary in the automotive world, and he gives top guests that celebrity treatment on a late-night show.
He made local headlines by appearing at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California and the Audrain Concours + Motor Week in Newport, Rhode Island.
In 2017, Big Dog registered Jay Leno’s name, sketches and signature for a possible line of car care products.
The comedian famously said he didn’t spend the millions on “The Tonight Show” on cars or anything — he had savings.
Leno, who has kept a relatively low profile at home, has been performing for several years at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, scheduled for Nov. 18. 20.
It is unclear whether the event will affect the schedule of his CNBC show. A representative for the show did not immediately respond to a request for information. It was recorded before each season aired.
All his appointments this week have been cancelled.
Dennis Romero contributed.