On October 3, 1921, just before 12:30 pm, Portland firefighters were alerted to a small roof fire at 10th and Montgomery Streets. Engines 1 and 22 responded, leaving their quarters at roughly the same distance and speed from the call.

Nearby, the State Federation of Labor Convention had just gathered on the steps of the Labor Temple for a photograph. The delegates were still in front of the building when the two engines approached the intersection.

A.W. Miller saw what was about to happen. As the engines approached the blind corner, he ran into the middle of the intersection and waved his arms, trying to warn both drivers. But department members ignored Miller’s warning, believing he was a “fanatic or a firebug” attempting to distract them from the call. Firefighters were flagged down so often by pedestrians while responding to calls that they had learned to ignore such behavior.

Engine 1 was traveling on 4th Street while Engine 22 was traveling on Jefferson Street and attempting to turn onto 4th. As the two engines entered the intersection, both drivers swerved in an attempt to avoid the other, but the engines collided.

Lieutenant Oscar L. Lehman, riding on Engine 1, was thrown from the apparatus and knocked unconscious. He suffered skull fractures and died later that afternoon at St. Vincent Hospital. Firefighter Frank Bailey, who was riding the back step of Engine 22, was also thrown from the engine, suffering a broken leg and other injuries.

The call that brought the firefighters racing to the scene turned out to be a false alarm. Later that month, both drivers faced disciplinary charges for the accident.

Oscar was survived by his wife of three weeks, a 3-year-old son from a former marriage, his parents, and his brother Albert, who was also a firefighter.