Exhibit 23.1

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in the S-8  registration  statement,  dated January 16, 2002, to issue
1,000,000  shares of common stock of Rural/Metro  Corporation  (the Company) for
the  Company's  employee  stock  purchase  plan, of our report dated October 12,
2001,  included in the Company's  Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2001 and
to all references to our firm included in this registration statement.

/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
JANUARY 14, 2002