UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25
                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

Commission File Number: 0-22056
                       ----------
(Check One):  [ ] Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB   [X] Form 10-Q and Form 10-QSB
              [ ] Form 20-F  [ ] Form 11-K    [ ] Form N-SAR

For Period Ended:  December 31, 2001
                 ------------------------
[ ] Transition Report on Form 10-K    [ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F
[ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K    [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q
[ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR

For the Transition Period Ended:

If the notification  relates to a portion of the filing checked above,  identify
the Item(s) to which the notification relates:

PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION

                             Rural/Metro Corporation
                             -----------------------
                             Full Name of Registrant


                            -------------------------
                            Former Name if Applicable

                           8401 E. Indian School Road
            ---------------------------------------------------------
            Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)

                            Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
                            -------------------------
                            City, State and Zip Code

PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) and (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without  unreasonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should
be completed. (Check box if appropriate)

[X]  (a) The reasons  described  in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this form
     could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense;

[X]  (b) The subject annual report,  semi-annual  report,  transition  report on
     Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K, Form N-SAR, or portion  thereof,  will be filed
     on or before the fifteenth  calendar day following the prescribed due date;
     or the  subject  quarterly  report or  transition  report on Form 10-Q,  or
     portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth calendar day following
     the prescribed due date; and

[ ]  (c) The accountant's  statement or other exhibit required by Rule 12b-25(c)
     has been attached if applicable.

PART III - NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable  detail the reasons why the Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB,
11-K, 20-F, 10-Q and Form 10-QSB,  N-SAR, or other transition  report or portion
thereof, could not be filed within the prescribed period.

Although  Rural/Metro  Corporation (the "Company") has reported its results from
operations  for the three and six month  periods  ended  December 31, 2001,  the
Company is  experiencing  delays in the  preparation and filing of its Form 10-Q
due to the following:  (1) as disclosed in the Company's Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on February 5, 2002, the Company has engaged new  independent  public
accountants,  and such accountants are reviewing the Company's interim financial
statements for the first time; and (2) the Company is analyzing new interpretive
guidance from the Commission regarding  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
Results and Financial  Condition to  incorporate  such guidance in the Company's
Form 10-Q.

PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name  and  telephone  number  of  person  to  contact  in  regard  to  this
     notification

           John S. Banas III             (480)            994-3886
           -------------------------------------------------------------
           (Name)                     (Area Code)     (Telephone Number)

(2)  Have all other periodic  reports  required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
     of 1940 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
     registrant was required to file such reports), been filed. If answer is no,
     identify report(s).                                          [X] YES [ ] NO

(3)  Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from
     the corresponding  period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
     earnings statement to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?
                                                                  [ ] YES [X] NO

If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change,  both narratively,  and,
if  appropriate,  state the  reasons  why a  reasonable  estimate of the results
cannot be made.

                             Rural/Metro Corporation
                  --------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has  caused  this  notification  to be signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

Date: February 14, 2002                     By: /s/ John S. Banas III
                                                --------------------------------
                                                John S. Banas III
                                                Senior Vice President and
                                                General Counsel