Did budget cuts add to Malibu fire?

Amid severe staffing shortages, California park rangers for months have battled after-hours parties in the area near the flash point of the weekend Malibu wildfires that scorched 4,900 acres and left 53 homes in ruins, the Daily News has learned. Beth Barrett in the Daily News.

Rangers on Monday said they have been aware of the problem for at least the past six months and even patrolled the area less than six hours before the firestorms are estimated to have started just hours before dawn Saturday.

While officials on Monday were still investigating the cause of the wildfires, they have said it was caused by humans and swept down from the popular gathering spot at the top of Corral Canyon into the Malibu Bowl community