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Missoula's Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) Response team aided in cleaning up a diesel spill in front of Big Sky Brewing on Trumpeter Way just after 1 pm on Tuesday.

Swift Transportation Hazmat Department manager Dan Coberly said a mechanical failure of a fuel connection caused the leak. The driver was on his way to pick up a load at Big Sky Brewing.

"The driver could not have known that this was going to fail," Coberly said.

As Swift Transportation company policy dictates, Coberly said the driver removed his cotton mattress and placed under the spill to minimize spill spread. He then contacted Coberly at the Hazmat Department.

The hazmat team stopped the diesel spill.

Missoula Rural Fire District Acting Battalion Chief Damon Almond said between 20 and 25 gallons of fuel leaked, but Coberly said that amount was actually closer to 12 to 15 gallons.

Crews used an absorbent on the spill and concluded it didn't appear the diesel reached a nearby storm drain.

Almond said the situation wasn't as dangerous as initially believed since diesel fuel is far less flammable then gasoline.