Famed comedian and late-night talk show host Jay Leno was burned in a car fire in his garage over the weekend. On Wednesday morning, his doctor provided an update, noting that “His injuries are serious, [but] his condition is good.”
Dr. Peter Grossman’s update revealed that Leno suffered “significant burns to his face and hands.” His chest also sustained unspecified injury.
Leno is well known for his classic car collection — reportedly valued between $50 and $100 million. The fire occurred when he was working underneath a car in his garage.
Grossman noted that Leno had undergone one surgery and has another scheduled for later this week. Grossman noted that Leno is undergoing “surgical excision and grafting procedure[s].”
Remarking how Leno responded to the first surgery, Grossman said:
“He did well with that surgery. He is in good spirits today.”
Early reports noted that Leno suffered “deep second-degree” burns during a car fire. Steve Lookner, News Anchor at AgendaFree TV, tweeted:
“Jay Leno Seriously Burned in Car Fire…Jay was in the L.A. garage where he stores his cars on Sunday when one of the cars erupted into flames without warning… the flames burned the left side of Jay’s face”
“Burn injuries are progressive and dynamic,” Grossman said. “It’s hard to predict what the final outcome will be at this stage in the game.”
Grossman also shared that Leno has assisted others being treated at the burn unit — noting that Leno passed out cookies to children “and has been helping out with other patients.”
“We’re very happy to have him as part of our team,” the doctor quipped.
Shortly after the accident, Leno issued a statement to Fox News: “I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.”
Aware of the statement, Grossman cautioned that Leno’s recovery will likely take a little longer than “a week or two.”
Complimenting Leno, Grossman said: “He seems to be a gentleman who really doesn’t want to make a big deal of this. He wants to get back to work; that’s what he does. I had to tell him that he needs to step back a bit and that these things take time.”
Grossman added: “I feel that he will be back to work sometime soon.”
Battalion Chief Dave Burke confirmed to Fox News Digital that the Burbank Fire Department responded to an “emergency medical call” on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 12:28 p.m. Their statement read:
“After arriving on scene, BFD resources assessed and treated one adult male patient. The patient was transported to a local Emergency Department.”
Aimee Bennett, Director of Strategic Communications at the West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, said in a statement that Leno has been receiving “treatment at the Grossman Burn Center for injuries to his “face and hands from a gasoline accident in his garage.”
Bennett added: “He 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.'”
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