Yes, there are so many survivor stories of smokey streets and police blockades. There isn't much about knocked doors or firefighters. The ones with warning would be more likely to make it out.

I remember when there was a fire near me 3 years ago. I first heard when a cop went by saying fire evacuate. As we left a helicopter got there to survey the fire and they said anyone who can hear me should evacuate. We left pretty quick and saw firefighters going in. There was downed wires and cops were there to say drive around slowly. The fire burned the hillside by my house only ten minutes after we left. The phone told me to evacuate when we were already on the freeway.

The Maui thing is wrong on so many levels. The cops managed to make blockades but not do anything useful? There were no alerts at all? Sure they might not be able to tell people before the first house went down but they never sent out any texts? Never turned on any sirens? Didn't send a helicopter? No flashing lights everywhere? Weeks later you still can't go back and see the ash of your own home? It's crazy.