PLAINVILLE - Every few days, a brush fire flares up in the High Street area.

The fire department responds, soaks the area, even putting an additive into the water that helps it penetrate the ground better.

But Fire Chief Ted Joubert said the earth is so dry that the fire continues to burn in underground peat, only to pop up in another location a few days later.

"Obviously we're pretty nervous it has been this dry for so long," he said of the weather conditions.

The National Weather Service in Taunton said last month was one of the driest Augusts in recorded history and there has been no rain so far in September. "It was an abnormally dry month," Nicole Belk of the weather service said. "Soil moisture is well below normal."

The conditions are starting to impact the Plainville water system.

The water department has raised its outdoor use restrictions to Level 2.

That means no outdoor watering is allowed between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Residents may use outdoor hoses from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. once a week, depending on what day their trash is picked up.

Mansfield also extended its water restrictions to Oct. 1. They had been set to expire on Labor Day, but selectmen authorized the extension this week so that town wells do not become overtaxed.

Other area water departments said they have not yet had to impose restrictions, although their water supplies are lower than normal.

Steve Braiser of the Attleboro water department said the city's five water sources are lower, but the city is still in good shape.

"As of right now, we don't have a problem. We have a good supply on hand," he said.

The department has been pumping water out of Manchester Resevoir and Lake Mirimichi, but that is often done during the summer, he said. Duane Knapp, superintendent of Norton's water department, said the town's five wells are still at a safe level.

"At the moment, we're just fine," he said.

He credited heavy rain in May and June with providing the water needed to get through the current dry spell.

Seekonk Water Superintendent Rob Bernardo said he is keeping a close watch on water levels, but there is no cause for alarm at present.

Several area communities have been plagued by brush fires.

Tuesday there were flare ups in Attleboro, South Attleboro and Rehoboth.

Joubert said there is not much fire departments can do except be vigilant and plead with residents to be careful with matches, cigarettes and other sources of fire.

He said he has the added concern of Plainville lacking fire hydrants on the west side of town because there is no town water supply there, only private wells.

During a fire on the west side, the department often has to rely of ponds for water, but the ponds are lower than normal, too, he said.

There might be a small measure of relief in sight.

The National Weather Service is calling for rain on Sunday and Monday.