Jay Leno’s Gasoline Fire Accident: What Happened, His Injuries and More

Credit: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal

Jay Leno's Gasoline Fire Accident: What Happened, His Injuries and More

Jay Leno is on the mend after a harrowing gasoline accident left him with “serious burns” on his face. The former Tonight Show host, who was burned in a garage fire that broke out in November 2022, “got some serious burns from a gasoline fire,” Leno told Variety one day after the incident. “I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.” Leno — a notable car enthusiast who has hosted Jay Leno’s Garage since 2015 — was at his Burbank garage when a gasoline fire erupted, per TMZ. While spending 10 days at Los Angeles’ Grossman Burn Center, Leno underwent several surgeries, including a skin grafting procedure. “His injuries are serious, his condition is good,” his doctor, Dr. Peter Grossman, shared in a press release, per Page Six. Despite his serious condition, the New York native spent time making children smile by passing out cookies to the kids at the hospital. “We’re very happy to have him as part of our team,” the physician stated. Leno was released from the medical facility later that month. [jwplayer q15JlmAF-zhNYySv2] "Jay will receive follow-up care at the Grossman Outpatient Burn Clinic for burns to his face, chest and hands he received during a fire at his home garage,” the burn center said in a press release, per CNN. “Jay would like to let everyone know how thankful he is for the care he received, and is very appreciative of all of the well wishes. He is looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with his family and friends and wishes everyone a wonderful holiday." Grossman noted in the release that he is “pleased with Jay's progress, and I am optimistic that he will make a full recovery." The Grossman Burn Center shared the first photo of Leno since the accident, an image of the multiple-time Emmys host posing with staff. Prior to the accident, Leno opened up about another health scare — his battle with cholesterol. “There’s a lot of people walking around … they’re just time bombs,” he shared in a video in 2019, as well as referencing his own diagnosis. “You’ve got all this cholesterol, you don’t realize it until it actually hits, you know? 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.” Keep scrolling for everything to know about Leno’s scary accident:

Credit: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal

Jay Leno's Gasoline Fire Accident: What Happened, His Injuries and More

Jay Leno is on the mend after a harrowing gasoline accident left him with “serious burns” on his face. The former Tonight Show host, who was burned in a garage fire that broke out in November 2022, “got some serious burns from a gasoline fire,” Leno told Variety one day after the incident. “I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.” Leno — a notable car enthusiast who has hosted Jay Leno’s Garage since 2015 — was at his Burbank garage when a gasoline fire erupted, per TMZ. While spending 10 days at Los Angeles’ Grossman Burn Center, Leno underwent several surgeries, including a skin grafting procedure. “His injuries are serious, his condition is good,” his doctor, Dr. Peter Grossman, shared in a press release, per Page Six. Despite his serious condition, the New York native spent time making children smile by passing out cookies to the kids at the hospital. “We’re very happy to have him as part of our team,” the physician stated. Leno was released from the medical facility later that month. [jwplayer q15JlmAF-zhNYySv2] "Jay will receive follow-up care at the Grossman Outpatient Burn Clinic for burns to his face, chest and hands he received during a fire at his home garage,” the burn center said in a press release, per CNN. “Jay would like to let everyone know how thankful he is for the care he received, and is very appreciative of all of the well wishes. He is looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with his family and friends and wishes everyone a wonderful holiday." Grossman noted in the release that he is “pleased with Jay's progress, and I am optimistic that he will make a full recovery." The Grossman Burn Center shared the first photo of Leno since the accident, an image of the multiple-time Emmys host posing with staff. Prior to the accident, Leno opened up about another health scare — his battle with cholesterol. “There’s a lot of people walking around … they’re just time bombs,” he shared in a video in 2019, as well as referencing his own diagnosis. “You’ve got all this cholesterol, you don’t realize it until it actually hits, you know? 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.” Keep scrolling for everything to know about Leno’s scary accident:

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What Happened?

A gasoline fire broke out at Leno’s Burbank garage in mid-November 2022, where he was seriously injured and suffered “serious burns,” he revealed the following day.

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What Were Leno's Injuries?

The comedian suffered “burns to his face, chest and hands,” the Grossman Burn Center said via a press release. He underwent a skin grafting procedure to treat his wounds, per his doctor.

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What Did Leno Say About the Accident?

One day after the fire, Leno broke his silence on the scary situation. “I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire,” he shared with Variety at the time. “I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.”

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How Long Was He Hospitalized For?

Leno spent 10 days at the Grossman Burn Center and “will receive follow-up care” at their outpatient clinic. He underwent multiple surgeries during his stay, but also made time for the children at the medical facility — passing out cookies to the young patients, his doctor reported.

Credit: Grossman Burn Center

1st Photo of Leno Since the Accident

The comedian posed with the staff at Grossman Burn Center in his first photo since the fire.

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An Update From a Friend

During his November 22 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Leno’s former costar and longtime pal Tim Allen gave an update on the comedian’s health. 

“He’s great. He’s one of those heroes, remember the Deadpool villain who couldn’t feel pain? He’s that guy,” the Santa Clauses actor said, revealing that he left a message for Leno the day of his accident — and heard back immediately. 

“He calls back five minutes later,” Allen shared, telling host Jimmy Fallon that while Leno said his burns were “really painful” he wasn’t taking any painkillers because “pain is there for a reason.” 

“He’s just an amazing human being. He just wanted to get out of the hospital and it was one bit after another. … He said he’s going with the Clooney look and he looks really good considering the grafts he’s got,” the Home Improvement alum gushed, adding that the hospital did a “great job.” 

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Return to the Stage

Leno performed a stand-up set at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California, on November 27 — just six days after his release from the hospital. "We got two shows tonight, regular and extra crispy," he quipped during his appearance, according to Access Hollywood. “I never thought of myself as a roast comic.”

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Leno’s ‘New Face’

Leno declared he had “a brand new face” during a March 2023 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

“It's unbelievable … I was working on a car, and I got a face full of gasoline. [My face] caught on fire,” he said before joking, "You'd think there'd be a zipper here or something but no."

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Leno's 'Brand-New Ear'

"This is a brand-new ear," the You Bet Your Life host told Dana Carvey and David Spade while discussing the incident during a March 2023 appearance on their "Fly on the Wall" podcast. "When you get burned in a fire, ears are like paper. They're so thin it just goes up."