Wet torrefaction enhances the devolatilization reactivity of forest residues, but too severe conditions reverse the trend. Forest residues are more reactive in the combustion stage after wet torrefaction. The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) is employed for kinetics analysis. The activation energy and pre-exponential factors of cellulose and lignin are increased by wet torrefaction. Wet torrefaction increases the mass fraction but decreases the kinetic parameters of char.