The busiest hospital in Ventura County, St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, reopened this morning after being closed for 10 days and fumigated for mold.

Officials from the California Department of Public Health approved the hospital's reopening late Thursday afternoon. The emergency room opened at 7 a.m. today, and the 265-bed hospital will also begin admitting patients for some procedures. Elective admissions and surgeries won't begin until Monday.

St. John's emergency room closed Aug. 8, and the rest of the campus shut down six days later in the first temporary hospital closure in Southern California since the Northridge earthquake 13 years ago. The reopening is expected to relieve pressure from other area hospitals operating at or near capacity as well as emergency medical workers and ambulances forced to take longer routes to hospitals.

"Everyone will be happy this place is going to be open," said T. Michael Murray, St. John's president, noting occupancy at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo jumped from about 80 patients to as many as 141.

For about 24 hours last weekend, chlorine dioxide gas flowed through the tented hospital, killing the mold. Officials of Sabre Technical Services have said the fumigation worked, and results from test spore strips are expected in several weeks.

On Thursday, employees restocked gift shop shelves and prepared the operating department for opening.

The smell of chlorine dioxide marked the lobby and some other units. One employee wore a surgical mask because of the odor. Other people said the scent was lessening because of air conditioning and at least one floor fan.

"I have asthma and I was worried about coming back in, but I have no problems," said Sue Swaim, nursing director of surgical services.

The gas caused a little rust in some areas of the hospital, Murray said, noting it was being treated with BullFrog sunblock and wasn't considered a major problem. Dark blue carpet had been discolored as if it had been washed with too much bleach, and blue cushioned chairs had been turned the color of peach.

But the equipment was in place and, hospital officials said, everything worked.

That's good news for Barry Fisher, administrator for Ventura County Emergency Services. He said things went smoothly during the closure but was happy about the reopening.

"I'll be glad that I can actually concentrate on something else for awhile," he said.