The story itself is kind of an odd one, since the fatality had nothing to do with the either the fire or the evacuation order. The news org. presented it rather poorly IMO.

As for the evacuation order itself: basically, it's the authorities saying "understand this clearly: you could be cut off, and if that happens we cannot and will not come in to help you."

There are situations where someone might choose, if they were very well-informed and well-equipped, to stay.

But most people haven't seen a wind-driven fire in action, and that means they could make a very wrong choice. I've fought a couple of wind-driven grass fires and boy do those things move. My response to a crowning forest fire is simple and unequivocal: get me the h*ll out of here!