I think its been generally accepted that this summer has been one of the hottest on record and it is also accepted that the lawns are going to be affected.

As lawns go brown they go dormant....they are not dead...they are ..let's call it resting. when the cooler weather returns, and with some moisture, they will return their green lush growth if they have received sufficient energy in their roots to grow. I speak of fertilizer. If you have regularly fertilized with a nitrogen based food the lawn will return. If the lawn is depleted of nutrients, then it will have a slower return rate and may not perform up to your specs.
Fertilizing regularly with a nitrogen based food encourages those bare spots to come in from what grass is there.
Further encouragement can be given....but never, never, fertilize during a heat spell. If the lawn is not growing it cant use the food so don't waste your money.

Your neighbors evidently, either have a different grass type than you do, or they have taken the time to water that 1" per week which is the usual recommendation.
Lower amounts of moisture can cause the grass roots to grow shallow; subject then to heat and loss of moisture.
High amounts of moisture also can cause the same effect.
Thus those lawns on flood plains are often put at risk.
Too much of anything....even if its good, is too much and can cause problems.