Excerpts from the rrstar.com:

Residents of the Buckingham Square Apartments were evacuated Wednesday as heavy smoke poured from the two-story building in the 4100 block of Florida Drive in Rockford.

Shortly before 1 p.m., a resident of the apartment complex went outside and flagged down a Rockford Fire Department vehicle that was headed to another call from Station No. 11, which is next door to the apartment building.

Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten said the apartments are separated by fire walls.  The cause of the fire as well as a damage estimate have yet to be determined.

thanks Scott