Like most in Poway, Rich Illes' family was told to evacuate their home because of the Witch Creek fire.

With 10 minutes to leave his Lomas Verdes Estates home, Illes, his wife and three kids grabbed little before heading out the door.

Once they were down the driveway, Rich's son, Alec, asked his dad about his football gear.

"That wasn't high on the priority list, unfortunately," Rich Illes said.

The Illes family lost everything, including Alec's football gear.

"In retrospect there were some things we should have grabbed. But in the end it is all replaceable," Rich Illes said. "We got out the kids and the pets and that is all that really matters."

Eleven-year-old Alec Illes wasn't the only player whose equipment was lost. Four other Poway Pop Warner players lost their homes, as did eight Ramona players, and one cheerleader, five players and three coaches from Rancho Bernardo.

Not only were houses lost, but also facilities. Rancho Bernardo's field at Rancho Bernardo Community Park has been taken over by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Escondido Pop Warner's facility at Kit Carson Park is being used as a command center for first responders. Ramona's practice field barely survived the fire, but it is also being used as a staging ground.

Many community sports across North County were affected, including many soccer leagues and the Escondido Sports Center, which canceled all activities until Saturday.

Palomar Conference Pop Warner president Debbie Winters said the toughest thing for her was deciding when to resume play.

"We didn't want to make the families feel that they have to go out and play football or go to a cheer competition," Winters said. "But the consensus we received from our different associations is that they felt that playing football will get the kids back to their normal routine."

The Palomar Conference, which fields 17 teams throughout North County and Temecula, will resume games this Saturday.

On Tuesday, Alec Illes and fellow Poway teammate Joey Silva received brand new equipment from league president Ron Schredor.

"We will do whatever it takes for them to get back on the field," Schredor said.

His father, Joe Silva, said his 11-year-old son asked about his gear as the family was evacuating their home off of Old Coach Road.

"I told him we'll come back and get it," Joe Silva said. "At that point I was thinking the fire wasn't going to reach the house."

Silva was wrong, however. He went back to his house around 9 a.m. on Monday to watch flames engulf his home.

"If we would have gotten there 15 minutes earlier, we could have put it out," said Joe Silva.

With his equipment gone, Joey Silva feared his playing days were over.

"He thought he was done," said Joe Silva. "But as soon as Coach (Jeff) Murray heard about that, he said 'No way.' "

What does Joey Silva think of the brand new gear?

"I'm pretty happy because I love football," he said holding a brand new helmet and shoulder pads, "because I like hitting people and stuff."

Ramona Pop Warner president Ben Narramore was out of town and away from his home when the Witch Creek fire started. So Narramore dropped off his family at a friend's house, and asked his son, Jordan, what he wanted out of the house when he was able to get back in.

His son's answer didn't surprise him.

"He said to make sure I grab his football gear," said Narramore. "That shows us how important it is to these kids."

Jordan Narramore was lucky. His gear and house were saved from the fire, but nine other Bulldawgs did lose their homes.

Ben Narramore said he is in the process of replacing their gear as well.

"We may have to throw some stuff together, but we will finish the season," he said. "No matter what. We will finish."

Ben Narramore said the community's assistance has been a big help when noting that Menifee Pop Warner donated food, money, toys and other items to Ramona's association. Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner president Melissa Packwood also said Rancho Penasquitos Pop Warner has offered two of its fields to RB.

"Actually, the Pop Warner family in San Diego has really reached out. I've got tons of e-mails from people that want to help out," Ben Narramore said. "This association has gone through a lot of tragedy and we can get through it.

"Pop Warner is so close. We play year round, five nights a week. So you really are a family. It shows how strong the Pop Warner family is."

- Contact staff writer Matt Null at mnull@nctimes.com.