MTFCA Forum

I just heard that fellow car guy Jay Leno suffered serious but non-life threatening facial burns in a car fire at his garage. He has tweeted that he is OK but will need a few weeks off to recover. Get well soon, Jay!

I wish him well. He's a great car and old tech guy and a fine entertainer as well. He shares his cars, too.

I enjoy his TV programs and hope he recovers to the point that he can continue. And I know that burns are very painful. I have been praying for him.
Norm

Latest news indicates he was working on one of his 1907 White steam cars at the time. Someone (not George) was with him at the time and was able to extinguish the flames quickly before they caused even more damage.

I wonder if it was atomized fuel...I have a friend who was burning a brush pile and asked someone who should have known better, to "get that can of kerosene for me"...well that can was a mixture of kerosene and mostly gasoline...

Once pitched toward the fire, he was completely enveloped in a flash fire...a FOOMP! and then smoldering... His face was red as a beet and swelled up like a pumpkin in minutes. He appeared to be in a LOT of pain for at least 2 weeks, and took several months to heal up. He was stoic and said it was "no big deal" but I know for certain, it really was. No insurance. Lots of home-made salve. A really lucky guy.

All the best to Jay...he's a hurtin' puppy.

I saw a quick interview with George as he was trying to drive away from the hospital. He said that Jay was troubleshooting a blockage in the fuel nozzle (labeled O in the illustration below) that shoots what is supposed to be vaporized gasoline into the steam generator burner inlet. So he may have been poking a "pricker" into the nozzle to try and clear the blockage.

I remember an episode of 'Leno's Garage' where Jay is showing the workings of a Stanley Steamer and he jokingly tells the audience you can "identify the steamer owner by the lack of eyebrows"

And if the nozzle was clogged there may have been a puddle of fuel building up that may have flashed (ignited) so sorry to hear of this I will send more prayers.

Having experienced a similar injury in my youth it is very painful. It takes months to stop hurting and months more to acceptably heal. I wish him best.

Leno was released from the burn center today. Doctors are pleased with his progress. He looks fairly good in a picture.

I saw the picture and was also impressed wit how good he looked. I thought about posting it here, but didn't want to get dinged for copyright infringement.

It should be ok to post a link.
https://people.com/health/jay-leno-disc ... line-fire/

He looks like he did before. I have known others who were burned, whose appearance was changed for the rest of their lives.
Norm

He’s back in his garage and behind the wheel. A few visible burns, but overall, having a very good recovery. He probably kept the nurses laughing. Just the kind of patient they will be sorry to see go. Jim Patrick

I am guessing that hyperbaric therapy is nearly miraculous for recovery from this kind of tissue damage.

I've read that it can greatly facilitate wound healing. I'd guess that it would be especially efficacious where an older patient or extensive injury is involved. I'd also guess that side effects, if any, would be minimal.

I just saw on the internet that Jay was in a car accident today!

Looks like a minor fender bender in his Tesla with a Police officer (no doubt) trying to parallel park with paparazzi flash bulbs exploding everywhere. I’ve already read one article on it and they seemed to question his abilities at 72 years old driving. They where Surprised since he’s a “car guy” I feel the sharks are about to feed. Makes me I’ll. I hope the best for Jay. Hopefully he will lay low for awhile..
Bryant

I'm going to bet his neck mobility is limited and painful with those burns. Wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the case in this accident.

I believe he will now need to upgrade his standard denim outfits to something more appropriate when operating his steam cars.

The problem was probably a malfunction of the Tesla. They are known for accidents. Too many self driving features which can malfunction. Jay is a good driver. However it might be a bit soon for him after being burnt.
Norm

This is Jay Leno as we know him, his first interview after the accident !
https://youtu.be/9scfWN6aXaU

I had similar injuries in a chemistry lab fire approximately 1982. The skin on your hands comes off like a glove. It hurts a lot and takes months to heal.

Hyperbaric chamber treatment I know speeds recovery from many types of injuries. I am certainly no doctor, or expert on the subject (like the doc above), but I would have concerns about the long term effects of speeding recovery up too much. Maybe just my suspicion of modern medical practices (no offense intended?).
A lot of my work over the years has been with equipment and conditions that could make mincemeat of someone in a second! I was always very careful, and still have all my fingers and toes! I also have my fair share of scars from near misses! And I have been burned numerous times, even by oxy-acetylene flame! Fortunately, because I was being careful, all my burns were small, although a couple did reach third degree status. Yeah, they hurt. But they did heal fine on their own.

I am pleased to hear Jay is doing so well, and I hope he has many more wonderful years ahead to enjoy his fantastic car collection!

And you too doc. I always enjoy reading your postings here.

Our former next door neighbor had a Christmas tree fire about 20 years ago. Everyone got out and another neighbor got his boat and trailer out of the place. The house was Cedar with a detached garage. both house and garage burnt to the ground. They were sitting around a table and noticed a flash and looked at the tree. It was ablaze and caught the wall behind it and all 4 people got out, but Howard was last to get out and crawled out on his hands and knees. They had Vinyl carpeting which melted and burned mostly his arms and legs. Very deep burns and he had to have skin grafts from his abdomen. After months of extensive care he completely healed and has good use of hands and legs, but the skin on different parts of the same body does not match so his arms look like a patchwork quilt.
My brother in law was burning some trash in a large 50 gallon drum. Something in it exploded and got him in the neck, chest and abdomen. He healed up but with very huge scars. He said that if he moved his head he could feel it pulling all the way to his stomach.
Fire under control is a friend, but out of control can be painful or deadly.
I have not met Jay, but would expect him to be friendly. At least he is with everyone he meets with on his show. It is one of my favorite TV programs.
I hope he heals well and the pain is eased.
Norm

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/jay-l ... /27/id/110

Well this time he gets clothes lined off a motorcycle leaking gas.