EXHIBIT 99.1

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                        RURAL/METRO GRANTED EXCEPTION TO
                             CONTINUE NASDAQ LISTING

     SCOTTSDALE,  ARIZONA  (July 18, 2003) -  Rural/Metro  Corporation  (Nasdaq:
RURLE/RUREC), a leading U.S. provider of ambulance and fire protection services,
announced  today  that it has  received  a written  determination  of the Nasdaq
Listing  Qualifications  Panel to continue the listing of the company's stock on
The Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market subject to satisfying a September 30, 2003 deadline
for filing its Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended March 31, 2003 and its Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.

     Jack Brucker,  President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased
with the Panel's  decision and look forward to returning to full compliance upon
filing our Form 10-Q and Form 10-K by the deadline set forth."

     The company  announced on May 20, 2003 that it would file its Form 10-Q for
the third quarter ended March 31, 2003  following the completion of its analysis
related to the restatement  adjustments  necessary to increase its allowance for
Medicare,  Medicaid and contractual discounts and doubtful accounts in the range
of $35 to $45  million.  On June 16,  2003,  the company  announced  preliminary
unaudited  operating  results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2003
and 2002. The company does not currently  believe that the operating results for
these periods will be impacted by the restatement adjustments.

     In a July 17,  2003  letter,  the  Panel  noted the  company's  significant
efforts  to  conduct a  thorough  review  of its  accounts  receivable  with the
assistance of its independent  accountants  and the  significant  expenditure of
time and resources by the company to correct the  accounting  issues.  The Panel
also acknowledged the company's efforts to keep the investing public apprised of
the  anticipated  charge  as well as the fact  that  the  company  has  publicly
disclosed the operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.

     In addition to granting the filing  exception  through  September 30, 2003,
the Panel specifically  requires the company to timely file all periodic reports
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Nasdaq for all reporting periods
ending on or before March 31, 2004. Should the company miss a filing deadline in
accordance  with the exception,  it will not be entitled to a new hearing on the
matter and its securities may be delisted from The Nasdaq Stock Market.

     The  company's  common  stock  will  continue  to be traded  on The  Nasdaq
SmallCap Market  throughout the exception period,  with the conditional  listing
identified  by the character  "C" appended to its trading  symbol.  Accordingly,
effective with the open of trading on Monday,  July 21, 2003, the trading symbol
of the company's securities will be changed from RURLE to RUREC.

     Rural/Metro   Corporation  provides  emergency  and  non-emergency  medical
transportation, fire protection, and other safety services in 26 states and more
than 400 communities throughout the United States.

     EXCEPT FOR  HISTORICAL  INFORMATION  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,
AMONG OTHERS, THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY  MAINTAIN ITS LISTING ON THE
NASDAQ SMALLCAP MARKET, THE FINAL  DETERMINATION OF THE RESTATEMENT  ADJUSTMENTS
RELATING TO THE ALLOWANCE FOR MEDICARE,  MEDICAID AND CONTRACTUAL  DISCOUNTS AND
DOUBTFUL  ACCOUNTS;  THE COMPANY'S  ABILITY TO COLLECT ITS ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE;
COMPETITORS'  ACTIONS;  LITIGATION MATTERS; AND THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO SUSTAIN
OPERATING CASH FLOW, SECURE NEW CONTRACTS,  RETAIN EXISTING  CONTRACTS,  IMPROVE
EARNINGS AND OPERATING MARGINS, FURTHER ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE COLLECTION
PROCESS,  EFFECTIVELY  MANAGE  COLLATERAL  REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS RELATED TO ITS
INSURANCE  COVERAGE,  AND THE  COMPANY'S  ABILITY  TO CURE OR OBTAIN A WAIVER OF
COVENANT  NON-COMPLIANCE  OR AN AMENDMENT TO ITS CREDIT  FACILITY OR  INDENTURE.
ADDITIONAL  FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT THE COMPANY ARE DESCRIBED IN ITS FORM 10-K
AS AMENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2002 UNDER THE CAPTION "RISK  FACTORS" IN
THE MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SECTION, AND OTHER FACTORS AS DESCRIBED
FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE  COMPANY'S  SEC  FILINGS.  THE  COMPANY  DISCLAIMS  ANY
OBLIGATION TO UPDATE ITS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

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