QUICK thinking police officers have rescued an elderly couple from a burning home in Victoria's northwest.

Two senior constables spotted the flames during a routine patrol of Castlemaine late last night.

One of the officers entered the house to save the couple in their 80s and their small dog, while the other switched off gas cylinders and doused the flames with a garden house.

One of the officers was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke.

The fire was brought under control by fire fighters, and the incident is now being treated as suspicious.