More than 70 homes have been lost in a wildfire outside Australia's western city of Perth that is expected to continue burning for days. (Image: DFES via AP)

A helicopter drops fire retardant on a fire near Wooroloo, northeast of Perth, Australia, February 2. (Image: DFES via AP)

The fire had razed more than 9,000 hectares (22,200 acres) of farm and woodland in hills east of Perth by early on February 3. (Image: DFES via AP)

Perth and its surrounds had been in lockdown since January 31 as a pandemic precaution, but those threatened by the fire were exempted from the pandemic stay-at-home order so they could evacuate. (Image: DFES via AP)

An out-of-control wildfire burning northeast of the Australian west coast city of Perth has destroyed dozens of homes and was threatening more. (Image: DFES via AP)

Many people who had fled to evacuation centers were unsure whether their homes had survived. Fire burns on a hill at Wooroloo, near Perth, Australia, February 1. (Image: DFES via AP)

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Superintendent Peter Sutton said about 250 firefighters had been battling the erratic fire. A firefighter attends to a fire near Wooroloo, northeast of Perth, Australia, February 2. (Image: DFES via AP)

A warning to other threatened areas told people to leave if they are not prepared to fight the blaze. The bushfire is unpredictable and weather conditions are rapidly changing, the warning said, urging people to stay vigilant. The cause of the blaze was unknown. (Image: DFES via AP)

Wildfires are common during the current South Hemisphere summer. However the season has been mild on Australia’s southeast coast, which was devastated by massive fires last summer. (Image: DFES via AP)

Australia wildfire | Out-of-control bushfire destroys more than 70 homes