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 financial statements,  which appears in
this Form 10-K.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
October 4, 2002