KENNFORD firefighter Lee Howell is hoping to get to somewhere no man has ever been before.

Along with 23 other novices, Mr Howell, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset, based at Clyst St George, is joining accomplished explorer Jim McNeill in taking part in a polar expedition, with the aim of ending up at one of the most inaccessible places on earth – the Arctic Pole.

While Mr McNeill will participate in the whole 800-mile hike from Resolute Bay in Canada, the novices will split up into groups of seven to take on one of four 200-mile legs, the first of which starts on February 20.

Mr Howell, who took part in an intensive training programme on Dartmoor last week, is hoping to complete the last leg, which would mean he'd attempt to arrive at the Arctic Pole (otherwise known as the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility) within three weeks.

'It would mean I get the chance to go where no-one has ever been before, so it's quite appealing,' he said.

'We have to be mindful of the risks associated with that and I can't pretend it's not dangerous because it is, but, at the same time, the way the fire and rescue service control risks is through training and adequate preparation – and that's exactly what we're doing for the training for this Arctic Pole expedition as well.

'Of course, it might not come off, but that's all part of the adventure really.'

Ahead of the expedition, Mr Howell – who is aiming to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity, which supports injured firefighters and their families – will fly to the Svalbard islands, near Norway, in January for an advanced training course spanning three weeks, which, he says, will provide the perfect preparation.

'The temperature will be minus 30°C and it will be perpetual darkness, because the plan is to train for the very worst scenarios you can face, and then the expedition will hopefully be a bit easier,' he explained.

But what does Mr Howell's wife, Fiona, think about the whole thing?

'She is very supportive and understands I want to do this, and it's for a good cause,' said the fire chief, who also has two children, three-year-old Barnaby, and Jemima, five.

'I'm going to be away from home for a while but she knows it's something I've always wanted to do and I'm committed to doing it.

'I think she'll be pleased if I don't come back with frostbite!'

Along the expedition route 'crucial datasets' will be gathered to benchmark the condition of the ocean for the NASA-funded National Snow and Ice Data Centre.

To sponsor Lee – who is using the rest of his leave from this year and the whole of next's to take part – visit the website http://www.justgiving.com/howell">www.justgiving.com/howell.

He is also looking to hear from corporate sponsors – email [email protected]">[email protected] for further information.