About 100 people have been forced to leave as a fire spread in the municipality of Sant Josep de sa Talaia on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Ibiza.

The blaze was sweeping through an area of brush, pine forest and a scattering of inhabited homes near a highway, according to emergency management services.

The Military Emergency Unit, or UME, sent two helicopters to the area to fight the flames and plans to deploy about 100 soldiers, six fire engines and two tank trucks.

These resources will join a large-capacity helicopter dispatched by the Environment Ministry.

The Balearic Nature Institute, or Ibanat, also has two helicopters, two brigades, two small tanks, two technicians and three environmental agents working in the area together with the Ibiza firefighters.

Also on standby are all of Ibiza’s emergency volunteer groups.

The work of putting out the blaze is being hindered by the variable winds blowing in the area.