Jay Leno Says Car Engine Fire Felt Like His “Face Was on Fire”

Jay Leno is opening up about the November 12 auto fire that still left him with extreme next-diploma burns. In an interview with Persons, the previous Tonight Present host shared that he “got a deal with total of gasoline” although operating on the engine of just one of his vintage vehicles, which led to the incident that resulted in his considerable continue to be at the Grossman Burn Heart: “It felt specifically like my confront was on fireplace.”

A typical-car or truck aficionado and the host of Jay Leno’s Garage, Leno told People that “when you perform with cars, you have a great deal of accidents,” but admitted that the November 12 incident was “bigger than most.” Accompanied by his longtime pal Dave Killackey, Leno was in his Burbank garage making an attempt to unclog a gasoline line in the undercarriage of his 1907 White steam car or truck. “With a steam car, you have gasoline, but you also have a vaporizer, which is heated by a pilot gentle to change drinking water into steam,” he informed Individuals. Leno reportedly pushed air into the gas line to attempt to unclog it, landing him with “a facial area comprehensive of gasoline.” 

“I realized how shut I was to the pilot mild and I assumed, Uh-oh,” Leno explained. A spark from the motor blended with the gasoline, environment Leno’s face aflame. “It felt accurately like my experience was on hearth,” he explained. “Maybe like the most intensive sunburn you have ever had, that’d be fair to say.” The good thing is for Leno, he was clever plenty of to near his eyes and hold his breath, as he knew that he could very seriously problems his lungs if he breathed in. “I was below the vehicle it’s possible 10 seconds prior to Dave pulled me out,” Leno claimed. “Any longer than that, I could have lost my eye.”

The accident landed the comedian in the Grossman Burn Middle for nine days, in which he underwent two pores and skin grafting surgeries. “When he arrived in, his burns ended up further than I predicted,” said Leno’s surgeon, Dr. Peter Grossman. “Jay is definitely an outlier in terms of how nicely he’s healed thinking about the severity of his injuries.” All through it all, Leno reported, he refused to consider any soreness medicine simply because “the suffering is a reminder that I’m an idiot.”

Even though he was at the Grossman Burn Heart, renowned close friends despatched well-wishes, like John Travolta, Russell Crowe, and Tom Selleck. Considering that leaving the hospital, Leno has strike the stage, accomplishing stand-up at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Seashore, California. He’s discovered some lessons, nevertheless. “I know how poor it could have been,” said Leno. “But I’m alright. And I’m certain I’ll proceed to do the very same stupid items I’ve usually done—just possibly a little bit far more cautiously!” You heard it from Leno, youngsters: Be careful when participating in with hearth.