WEST WHITELAND — An SUV parked behind a barn apparently overheated and caught the structure on fire about 1 p.m. Friday, police said.

The West Whiteland Fire Company initially responded to reports of a vehicle fire, but the call was expanded when it spread to the barn. Police arrived at 12:49 p.m.  “When my assistant chief arrived, he said the building was in danger of exposure,” said West Whiteland Fire Chief George P. Turner.  The barn, owned by Dr. Leonard Giunta, normally houses a variety of vehicles as part of the automotive repair and detailing business that had been running out of the structure.  Police said the vehicle that started the fire was associated with the business, and it had been parked there by an employee before the fire broke out. An undetermined number of vehicles were parked inside the barn when the fire started, and no injuries were reported.  By around 1:30 p.m., the structure had been largely leveled by the flames, and smoke continued to billow from the site.  “I was down on (Route) 30 when I saw the smoke, and I came here and saw black smoke and that something was burning,” said neighbor Barbara McFalls. “When I was coming up Spackman (Lane) and going on Boot Road, I said, ‘Oh my God, it’s right by the house.’  Neighbor Anna Simcox, who has lived nearby for the past 57 years, said she came out to see what was happening after hearing sirens and seeing the smoke.  West Chester Fire Department Stations 51, 53 and Good Fellowship Ambulance assisted.