Jay Leno in good spirits as he recovers from second, third-degree burns in car fire

Jay Leno is on the mend in Los Angeles after he suffered second and third-degree burns to his hands, chest, and face from a car fire in his garage over the weekend.

During a press conference Wednesday, Leno's doctor, Dr. Peter Grossman with the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital, said the former "Tonight Show" host had serious injuries but was in good condition and in good spirits. He is expected to make a full recovery.

"He's walking around and cracking jokes. He's incredibly kind to our nursing staff. He's very appreciative of everybody here and really an ideal patient," Dr. Grossman said. 

Leno was working underneath one of his cars Saturday in his Burbank garage when an exhaust flareup occurred. 

So far, Leno has undergone one surgery and did well with that surgery, Dr. Grossman said. He is undergoing further treatment and is scheduled for another procedure this week, he added.

Dr. Grossman called Leno a "kind and engaging resident," noting he was passing out cookies to children in the pediatric unit. 

In a statement issued shortly after the incident, Leno said he needed "a week or two to get back on my feet."

However, Dr. Grossman said has informed Leno he "needs to take a step back" since "some of these things take time." 

"He's very compliant…I think he understands that he needs to perhaps take it a little slower than he initially anticipated, but I do feel he will be back to work at some point soon, and back to things he loves to do obviously, which is working on cars and going out and meeting people," Dr. Grossman added. 

The former "Tonight Show" host is known for his famed car collection, which is housed at his Burbank garage.

Leno had been set to appear at a financial conference in Las Vegas on Sunday but canceled because of a "serious medical emergency," People magazine reported earlier Monday, citing an email sent to those attending the conference.

Leno turned his love of cars into a CNBC series, "Jay Leno’s Garage," and now hosts a revival of the game show "You Bet Your Life," airing on FOX.