‘I got a face full of gas’: Jay Leno speaks about car fire, recovery
Leno speaks FILE PHOTO: Comedian Jay Leno sat down with the "Today" show and People magazine to talk about the car fire that left him with burns to his face, chest and hands. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A day tinkering on his car collection sent Jay Leno to the hospital with third-degree burns to his face and hands.
Now, the comedian is sitting down, talking about how the accident happened and his road to recovery.
The former “Tonight Show” host spoke in an interview with the “Today” show.
Leno said that he and a friend were in his garage full of vintage cars, trying to fix a more than 100-year-old vehicle on Nov. 12.
“It was a 1907 Whtie Steam Car. The fuel line was clogged so I was underneath. It sounded clogged and I said, ‘Blow some air through the line,’ and so he did.”
Leno said after the fuel line made a noise, gas came out.
“And suddenly, boom! I got a face full of gas. And then the pilot light jumped and my face caught fire,” Leno told Hoda Kotb.
Leno explained to People magazine how the engine works: “With a steam car, you have gasoline, but you also have a vaporizer, which is heated by a pilot light to turn water into steam.”
Leno told the magazine that as soon as he felt the flames, he shut his eyes and held his breath as he tried to get out from under the car.
“I’m not a panicky guy, but I knew if I breathed in I could scorch my lungs,” he told People. “I was under the car maybe 10 seconds before Dave pulled me out. Any longer than that I could have lost my eye.”
Luckily his friend Dave Killackey was there and smothered the flames. At first, Killackey didn’t know what was going on but then jumped into action.
“And I said to my friend, I said, ‘Dave, I’m on fire.’ And Dave’s like, ‘All right.’ I said, ‘No, Dave, I’m on fire!’ And then, ‘Oh, my God.’ Dave, my friend, pulled me out and jumped on top of me and kind of smothered the fire,” Leno said.
Leno was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Grossman Burn Center where he was treated for third-degree burns to his face, chest and hands, CNN reported.
Leno said he didn’t take any pain medication during his treatment.
“The pain is a reminder that I’m an idiot,” he told People magazine.
After a 10-day hospital stay that included skin grafts and hyperbaric chamber treatment, Leno was back on stage performing at a comedy club in Hermosa Beach, making fun of himself even before he started his set, CNN reported.
“We got two shows tonight — regular and extra crispy,” Leno told reporters and the crowd that had amassed outside the venue that night, “Today” reported.
Through the years LOS ANGELES - MAY 10: "The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. Show" featuring (from left) Marilyn McCoo, Jay Leno and Billy Davis, Jr. during a comedy skit, May 10, 1977. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Through the years APRIL 5: Jay Leno, one of the stars of "American Hot Wax," poses for a portrait, April 5, 1978. (Photo by Bill Curtis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (Boston Globe/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 15: Jay Leno and Arnesio Hall sighted on January 15, 1981 at the Improv in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years LAVERNE & SHIRLEY - "Do the Carmine" - Airdate: March 13, 1983. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
DAVID L. LANDER;EDDIE MEKKA;JAY LENO (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years 31 Jan 1993: Humorist Jay Leno (center) entertains the Buffalo Bills fans during the Super Bowl XXVII pre-game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys defeated the Bills 52-17. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /All (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Through the years Julie Cardoza puts one of her parrots on the shoulder of Jay Leno, on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' at the NBC Studios in Burbank, CA., July 31, 2001. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Comedian and talk show host Jay Leno speaks at a hand and footprint ceremony honoring actor Nicolas Cage August 14, 2001 at the famous Grauman''s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images) (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Through the years Tim Allen donated the '56 Chevy Nomad used in his sitcom "Home Improvement" to E-Bay's "Auction for America" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. October 4, 2001. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years ''Tonight Show'' Host Jay Leno attends Love Ride 18, the yearly motorcycle cruise and concert to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association November 11, 2001 in Glendale, CA. (Photo by Jason Kirk/Getty Images) (Jason Kirk/Getty Images)
Through the years Julie Scardina from SeaWorld and south american sloths on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Burbank, Ca. Thursday, June 13, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years BURBANK, CA - FEBRUARY 4: TV's "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin (L) wraps an anaconda snake around host Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC studios February 4, 2003 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years BURBANK, CA - OCTOBER 10: Mad Scientist David Willey appears on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios October 10, 2003 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years GLENDALE, CA - NOVEMBER 9: Actress Angie Everhart, comedian Jay Leno and musician Dusty Hill pose backstage at the Love Ride 20 at Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale November 9, 2003 in Glendale, California. The yearly motorcycle cruise and concert hosted by Grand Marshal Jay Leno benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Reading by 9 and other charities. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - MARCH 26: Talk Show host Jay Leno makes an appearance at Barnes & Noble to promote his new childrens book "If Roast Beef Could Fly" March 26, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Through the years SANTA MONICA, CA - AUGUST 28: Host Jay Leno stands by his Mercedes SLR during the Robb Report's "Best of the Best" at Hangar Eight on August 28, 2004 in Santa Monica, California. The event benefits "The Childen's Lifesaving Foundation." (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images). (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years BURBANK, CA - SEPTEMBER 27 - In this handout photo provided by NBC, Jay Leno and Oprah Winfrey celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tonight Show with a cake commemorating its hosts from past and present (Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.) (Photo by NBC/Paul Drinkwater via Getty Images.) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years BURBANK, CA - JANUARY 3: In this NBC Entertainment handout, "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" host Jay Leno looks on as actor Dustin Hoffman signs a Harley-Davidson motorcycle January 3, 2005 in Burbank California. Leno annouced on the show that he will have guests sign the motorcycle which will be auctioned off, proceeds from which will benefit the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. (Photo by NBC Entertainment via Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 1: Actor Tom Hanks and talk show host Jay Leno arrive at Saks Fifth Avenue's Unforgettable Evening at the Regent Beverly Wilshire on March 1, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years DAYTONA BEACH , FL - FEBRUARY 19: TV host Jay Leno drives the pace car during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Daytona 500 on February 19, 2006 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 28: Actor Jerry Seinfeld (L) and talk show host Jay Leno pose at the premiere of DreamWorks Animation's "Bee Movie" at the Mann Village Theatre on October 28, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 21: Actor Hugh Jackman (R) is congratulated by talk show host Jay Leno at the hand and footprint ceremony honoring Jackman in the forecourt of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre on April 21, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images) (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: Jay Leno (R) kisses the kind of actress Betty White during the American Women in Radio and Television 2010 Genii Awards at the Skirball Cultural Center on April 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years BURBANK, CA - FEBRUARY 06: Actor Billy Crystal (L) and comedian Jay Leno appear onstage during a commercial break on the final episode of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at The Burbank Studios on February 6, 2014 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 29: Event host Jay Leno is interviewed by George at Champions for Children's at Seaport World Trade Center on November 29, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston's Children Hospital) (Darren McCollester)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Lydia Fenet and Jay Leno host the auction during the 20th Anniversary Gala to celebrate Hudson River Park at Pier 60 on October 11, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hudson River Park) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hudson River Pa)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Jay Leno attends a benefit for WeSPARK Cancer Support Center at Skirball Cultural Center on October 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)