I wonder if they couldn't get the doors unlocked and so some had climbed out through the divider, as stated, but not all could make it. This is a terrifying way to die.
Based on the reports regarding the location and speed of the fire, I really think there just wasn't enough time to open the rear doors - either that the smoke was already too heavy to see the handles, or that the doors were already too hot/engulfed.
I can't imagine being the husband, waiting at the hotel, and wondering why all the ladies were late. Ugh.
On MSNBC, they said at least one person managed to escape out the left rear passenger door, or that is what the driver is saying. He helped pull some women through the divider.
I live in the area and the news just mentioned that the driver said that the women were knocking on the partition saying "smoke" but he thought they were asking to smoke in the limo. /