Exhibit 23

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-76526, 33-80454, 33-88302, 333-2818, 333-07457,
333-62517, 333-62983, 333-64139, 333-68161, 333-49004, 333-61412, 333-76826),
the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-39453) and the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-37393) of Rural/Metro Corporation of our report
dated September 30, 2002 relating to the June 30, 2002 financial statements,
which appears in this Form 10-K/A.


PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
October 25, 2002