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MONTEREY PARK, California (CNN) -- Arrest warrants have been issued for five men accused of starting a massive wildfire at Malibu State Park that destroyed more than 50 homes in November, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said.

A firefighter works to contain a wildfire threatening homes in Malibu, California, on November 24.

The men -- ranging in ages from 18 to 27 -- were drinking in a popular party spot in a cave at the park when they started the fire, authorities said.

All five are from the Los Angeles area and are being charged with three felonies -- including two arson-related charges.

Each count carries a sentence of two to four years in prison.

Investigators traced the fire to the cave, then used receipts and surveillance camera footage from a nearby store to hunt down the men, Baca said.

During the probe, fire officials speculated that a campfire may have started the blaze -- which engulfed roughly 5,000 acres and forced about 15,000 people to flee.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the wake of the fire, which started on November 24.

The blaze -- which was fueled by dry Santa Ana winds -- followed a spate of California wildfires in October that charred more than 508,000 acres in several counties.

Those fires forced 1 million people from their homes and left 14 people dead.