By Steve Rubenstein
The San Francisco Chronicle
 Photo SF Chronicle/Paul Chinn The Dennis T. Sullivan Memorial Fire Chief’s Home honors a fire chief engineer killed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. |
SAN FRANCISCO — Bail was set at $1 million Wednesday for the San Francisco planning director’s companion, who is accused of setting fire to the historic Nob Hill residence of the fire chief where the couple were living temporarily.
Lance Farber, 47, pleaded not guilty to felony arson and vandalism in a brief appearance at the Hall of Justice, shortly before Superior Court Judge John Conway set bail.
“I am concerned that this is a public safety issue,” the judge said.
Farber was ordered to return to court Friday after being evaluated for migraine headaches. His lawyer said the headaches have worsened since Farber was arrested Friday night.
Farber is a chiropractor who moved to San Francisco from Seattle in January with incoming Planning Director John Rahaim. He was presented in court with a stay-away order forbidding contact with Rahaim.
Farber was accused of violating an earlier stay-away order when he tried to contact Rahaim from jail by telephone Friday night after his arrest, police said. The first order had been issued that evening.
Farber’s lawyer, Randall Knox, said it was an “accurate assessment” that the dispute was a lovers’ quarrel. Farber set fire to the couple’s mattress, then called Rahaim to tell him that he had done so before leaving the residence at 870 Bush St., where the men were living while they were looking for a permanent home, Knox said.
Knox said $1 million bail was excessive because Farber’s is “not a typical arson case.”
“He has no criminal record at all,” Knox said. “The evidence will show that the only thing burned was a mattress that belonged to Lance and his partner.”
Farber has been “going through a difficult time” since the move from Seattle, having left behind his friends and his job, Knox said.
Thirty firefighters and several high-ranking city officials rushed to the three-story home after the fire broke out around 8:40 p.m. Friday. Police found the burning bed, overturned furniture and crushed tomatoes smeared on the floors and walls.
Damage to carpets and walls was estimated at $30,000. Some city officials said they hoped Rahaim would pay for the damage. The planning director did not return calls Wednesday seeking comment.
Farber was arrested in San Mateo County on suspicion of driving under the influence about an hour after the fire broke out.
The Dennis T. Sullivan Memorial Fire Chief’s Home, which honors a fire chief engineer killed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, was built in 1923 and is an official San Francisco landmark. The current chief, Joanne Hayes-White, is believed to be the first fire chief not to live in the house.
The home has occasionally been used during Mayor Gavin Newsom’s administration as temporary housing for newly arrived city officials. His office said Monday that practice would end.
Copyright 2008 San Francisco Chronicle
All Rights Reserved