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                                                                    Exhibit 99.5

CONTACT: Liz Merritt, Rural/Metro Corporation
         (480) 606-3337
         Morgen-Walke Associates
         Investor Relations:       Jim Byers, Jennifer Winter
         (415) 296-7383
         Media Relations:          Christopher Katis
         (415) 296-7383
         Wire Services:            Eric Gonzales
         (212) 850-5600

For immediate release


                    RURAL/METRO GRANTED BANK WAIVER EXTENSION


         SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (Feb. 1, 2001) - Rural/Metro Corporation (Nasdaq:
RURL) announced today that it has been granted an extension of its waiver of
covenant compliance under its revolving bank credit facility through April 15,
2001.

         In connection with the waiver, the Company has paid $500,000 in
deferred interest, which it has been accruing since April 2000. The waiver
carries no administrative fees.

         Jack Brucker, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We continue
to make significant progress to strengthen and improve the Company's long-term
performance. Our lenders have been supportive throughout this process and have
reaffirmed their confidence in Rural/Metro's ability to effectively manage and
execute its business plan."

         Throughout the waiver periods, the Company has met all regularly
scheduled interest payments on its revolving credit facility, as well as
periodic principal pay downs.

         Brucker continued, "We are clearly headed in the right direction for
the future profitability of the Company and will continue to work with our
lenders over the next several weeks to set the foundation for a long-term
solution that will benefit Rural/Metro and its stakeholders."

         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.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future
business prospects that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially. These uncertainties include the Company's ability
to secure a long-term revolving credit facility, issues surrounding healthcare
reimbursement, the Company's ability to increase efficiency of its collection
process and implement new programs, demand for the Company's services and other
factors and risks disclosed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports and
filings.