Clarence Edward Wilburn II, a longtime firefighter and paramedic who traveled to Ground Zero and served as a first responder in the wake of 9/11, died Wednesday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio in South Tole- do. He was 58.
He had pulminary fibrosis, thought to be a result of breathing the dust, smoke, and ash at Ground Zero, his younger brother, Jim, said.
As a member of the Toledo Area Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Mr. Wilburn responded to humanitarian crises and natural disasters across the globe. He provided medical care to victims of Hurricane Katrina and disaster relief in Guam, and answered the call to service during many other catastrophes. But he was most proud of his service in the aftermath of 9/11, his brother said.