Yes exactly Homeschool Mom. I live in a small town and my dad had a burn barrel. He was always burning in it (trash). He would bury garbage in a pit he dug, but he would burn trash in the burn barrel. But he would burn trash at all times in the day. Normal in a small town and since it happens all the time it is really not suspicious (or pretty much small town people are used to it). He never had to have a permit either Veracity. Not sure if all towns are the same though.
I know this town of Brooklyn looks really small compared to the town I live in and the town I live in is pretty small. We are considered a small hick town. Usually if you live on the outskirts of town you can pretty much do anything on your property (burn, operate machinery late at night, etc.) without anyone fussing.
I am surprised burn barrels are allowed. They are outlawed in MN. Why? Because the stuff people burn is highly toxic with no scrubbing of the particles released including dioxin
which is one of the most toxic substances that exists.