Jay Leno Says He Suffered 'Serious' Burns After Being Involved in Gasoline Fire: 'I Am OK'

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Jay Leno is speaking out after enduring a "serious medical emergency."

In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Monday, Leno, 72, confirmed that he's recovering after obtaining "serious burns" in a recent fire.

"I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire," he said in a statement. "I am ok. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet."

According to a press release from the Burbank Fire Department, which was obtained by PEOPLE, the incident occurred on Saturday around 12:30 p.m. BFD officials said they arrived on scene, where they "assessed and treated one adult male patient" before transporting him to "a local emergency department."

Aimee Bennett, a spokesperson at the Grossman Burn Center, also issued a statement to PEOPLE, confirming that Leno was being treated there after the incident in his garage.

"Jay wants everyone to know that he is in stable condition and receiving treatment ... for burns that he received to his face and hands from a gasoline accident in his garage over the weekend," Bennett said. "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.'"

Though it still remains unclear what exactly occurred, Leno's employee, George Swift, told Access Hollywood that Leno was sprayed by gas that caught fire while working on a steam car.

RELATED: Jay Leno Cancels Conference Appearance Due to 'Serious Medical Emergency,' Organizers Say

Jay Leno
Jay Leno

shannon Finney/Getty

PEOPLE previously reported that Leno had canceled a recent appearance for The Financial Brand Forum 2022 in Las Vegas on Sunday. Per the event's news blast sent to subscribers via email, it was confirmed that comedian Frank Caliendo would take his place.

"His family was not able to provide us very many details, but there was a very serious medical emergency that is preventing Jay from traveling," the email stated. "All we know is that he is alive, so our prayers go out to him and his family tonight."

A spokesperson at Flappers in Burbank also told PEOPLE that Leno canceled his scheduled show on Saturday night, just hours after the incident.

Leno faced health issues in the past. Most recently, he opened up about his high cholesterol diagnosis in a 2019 video.

"We really want people to see the connection, because a lot of people don't realize high cholesterol — and if you've had a heart attack or stroke, you're increasing your risk for another one," he said at the time. "It's like an earthquake, it might not destroy the house, but it certainly weakens the structure."

Leno continued, "There's a lot of people walking around like that, they're just time bombs. 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."

Jay Leno attends the weSPARK Cancer Support "May Contain Nuts A Night of Comedy" at Skirball Cultural Center
Jay Leno attends the weSPARK Cancer Support "May Contain Nuts A Night of Comedy" at Skirball Cultural Center

Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images

In an effort to manage the health matter, the former Tonight Show host was taking medication as well as using a portable EKG device to monitor the heart's rhythm and detect irregular heartbeats. He was also working to abstain from alcohol and cigarettes.

Before that, Leno was hospitalized in 2009 with an undisclosed illness. He later confirmed to PEOPLE that he sought treatment for exhaustion.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"That's like a rich person's condition. Poor people that work — they don't get exhausted. Only rich people get exhausted. It's an embarrassing thing," he said.

"I think I just probably got worn out," he continued. "I do three columns. I write for the London Sunday Times, I write for Popular Mechanics every month and I write for a British magazine called Octane. I do all automotive stuff. And then I'm on the road [doing standup comedy] 160 days. I think it's one of those deals where you just kinda just got worn out."