Authorities are investigating a house fire that broke out in Portage. Crews were dispatched to East Centre Avenue east of Lovers Lane just before 2 p.m. Friday and located flames on the exterior of one side of the home. Firefighters worked to quickly extinguish the blaze. Nobody was inside at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. E Centre Avenue was closed between Lovers Lane and Oakside Street for about three hours as fire officials battled the flames. The structure damage was estimated at approximately $20,000.