One day after an ammonia leak forced authorities to evacuate an industrial area of Langley Township, many nearby businesses and roads remained closed.

The leak was reported Wednesday afternoon at a pet food manufacturer in the Gloucester industrial park that specializes in freeze-drying.

Firefighters blamed the incident on a failure in the company's refrigeration system.

Maintenance contractors had the leak contained by the time emergency crews first arrived at the scene, but officials still cleared out the surrounding area in case their vacuum pumps should fail.

"Obviously when there's a leak there's concern, and that's why we've taken precautionary steps and evacuated as large an area as possible," Deputy Fire Chief Russ Jenkins.

More than 100 of businesses within a 400-metre radius of Gloucester Industrial Estates were evacuated Wednesday, and several roads were also closed off as a precaution.

By Thursday afternoon, the radius shrank to about 150 metres.

The Township of Langley said the evacuations and closures would remain in effect "until further notice," but 275 Street was reopened at 55, 52, 51A, 50A and 48 avenues at 3:30 p.m.

Joel Oesch of Allied Hose and Fittings said it's been a challenge waiting for the situation to be resolved.

"Very frustrating. You've got customers asking for product, you can't get it to them," Oesch said.

Save-On-Foods also has a warehouse in the industrial park, and has been scrambling for alternative ways to supply some of its stores during the evacuation.

"We are using alternate distribution methods to restock and doing everything possible to keep our customer service standards as high as always," a spokesperson told CTV News in an email.

Some people reported smelling ammonia in the air Wednesday, but no injuries have been reported.

Exposure to ammonia can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly. The compound, which is commonly used as a coolant, was responsible for last year's Fernie ice rink tragedy, which claimed the lives of three maintenance workers.

The Ministry of Environment and WorkSafeBC are also involved in the Langley leak response along with firefighters and private hazmat crews. The incident has not forced the evacuation of any homes.

With files from CTV Vancouver's Sheila Scott, Michele Brunoro and The Canadian Press