Exhibit 99.8


CONTACT: Liz Merritt, Rural/Metro Corporation
         (480) 606-3337
         Morgen-Walke Associates
         Jim Byers, Investor Relations
         (415) 439-4504
         Christopher Katis, Media Relations
         (415) 439-4518

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                      RURAL/METRO AGREES TO NEW BANK WAIVER
                 AND AGREES TO NEGOTIATE WITH STEERING COMMITTEE


     SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (Jan. 18, 2002) - Rural/Metro Corporation (Nasdaq: RURL),
a national  leader in ambulance  transportation  and fire  protection  services,
announced today that it has agreed to a new waiver of covenant  compliance under
its revolving  credit facility through April 1, 2002. The Company's prior waiver
expired December 3, 2001.

     Terms of the waiver are  consistent  with prior waivers.  In addition,  the
Company is supporting  the formation of a steering  committee  comprised of bank
lenders  and  senior  note   holders  to  further   explore   debt-restructuring
opportunities. The Company's financial and legal advisors, Imperial Capital, LLC
and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. will advise the Company in discussions with
the bank lenders and senior note  holders.  The steering  committee  has engaged
Chanin Capital Partners to act as its financial advisor and Akin, Gump, Strauss,
Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. as its legal advisors.

     The Company  will  negotiate  with the  steering  committee in an effort to
reduce the  Company's  debt and  further  improve  its  liquidity  and long term
financial  flexibility.  The Company will consider all appropriate strategies to
achieve these objectives.

     Jack Brucker,  President and Chief Executive  Officer,  said,  "Discussions
with our lenders have progressed in a positive  manner.  We remain  confident in
our ability to work together  toward a long-term  solution  while  continuing to
strengthen the Company's operations and results. We are pursuing a solution that
will benefit the Company and its stakeholders, and will enthusiastically support
the efforts of the steering committee."

     Rural/Metro  Corporation  provides mobile  healthcare  services,  including
emergency and non-emergency ambulance transportation,  fire protection and other
safety-related  services to municipal,  residential,  commercial  and industrial
customers in more than 400  communities  throughout  the United States and Latin
America.

     EXCEPT FOR  HISTORICAL  INFORMATION  CONTAINED  HEREIN,  THIS PRESS RELEASE
CONTAINS  FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES  THAT
COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER  MATERIALLY.  THESE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
INCLUDE THE COMPANY'S  ABILITY TO EXECUTE  DEFINITIVE  WAIVER  AGREEMENTS AND TO
REMAIN IN  COMPLIANCE  WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH  WAIVER  AGREEMENTS,  NEGOTIATE  A
LONG-TERM  SOLUTION  FOR ITS  REVOLVING  CREDIT  FACILITY  AND/OR  OVERALL  DEBT
STRUCTURE,  SUSTAIN  SUFFICIENT CASH RESOURCES,  SECURE ADDITIONAL  FINANCING IF
NEEDED,  IMPROVE  EARNINGS AND OPERATING  MARGINS,  WIN NEW BUSINESS,  AND OTHER
FACTORS AND RISKS  DISCLOSED  FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE COMPANY'S SEC REPORTS AND
FILINGS. BY MAKING THESE FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS,  THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO
OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THESE STATEMENTS FOR REVISIONS OR CHANGES AFTER THE DATE OF
THIS PRESS RELEASE.