The first Whitechapel Fire Station opened in 1875 on Commercial Road and cost £7,215 to build. It was built for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade as a superintendents station.
As a superintendents station, Whitechapel received all the fire calls from the street fire alarm systems in the area. The station then passed the call to the closest station to the fire alarm.
By 1900 it was home to a steam fire engine, an escape van and a long ladder. The station provided accommodation for a superintendent, a station officer, 16 firemen, three coachmen and three pairs of horses. On the higher floors lived the families of the firemen. In 1932 this station was replaced and the current station was opened.
During the Second World War Whitechapel had seven substations. This included stations at Robert Montifiore School and Fairclough Street School. The station was heavily involved in the war effort due to its location in the East End. Early in the Blitz the station received a direct hit, causing a number of casualties.
Whitechapel continues to keep its local communities safe as one of five stations in Tower Hamlets. Today the fire station is home to one Pump Ladder and is staffed by one Sub Officer, one Leading Firefighter and five firefighters.