Five men charged in California wildfires

Authorities say investigators traced the source of the fire back to a cave at a park. They used receipts and surveillance videos from a nearby store to find the men. The men range in age from 18 to 27 and partied at the popular site before starting the fire. It is unclear why the fire was started.

As a result of the fire, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency. The fire was fueled by Santa Ana winds, causing it to spread rapidly. Investigators initially believed the blaze could have been started by a campfire.

Only a month before the Malibu fires, more than 508,000 acres of California land was burned by fires. Nearly one million people fled their homes and the fire killed 14 people.

The men have been charged with three felonies – two being arson related. Each count holds a maximum sentence of four years in prison. The first court date is set for Monday.

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