I have a wood stove and when burning the old telephone poles that were on fire at one time and put out by the fire department sometimes I get a rubbery smell in the house, any idea what this could be?

I don't think telephone poles are safe to burn in a house for heat from what I've heard... basicly just like railroad ties. I'll bet that's the odor you smell.

Many of them are loaded with Creosite which is a carcinogen... and the greenish ones that don't have that likely has other toxic compounds. THe newest ones without the heavy metals aren't likely to be on the scrap piles yet except in cases of being damaged from other causes than rot.

Thank you smoothy.