A circuit breaker includes an interrupter configured to selectively prevent a flow of electrical current through the circuit breaker, and an assembly. The assembly includes a housing, an interrupter mechanism, and an arc protection mechanism. The housing includes an opening configured to channel an arc fault discharge generated during an arc fault into the housing. The interrupter mechanism is coupled to the housing and the interrupter, and is configured to move the interrupter between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position prevents a flow of electrical current through the circuit breaker and the second position permits a flow of electrical current through the circuit breaker. The arc protection mechanism is within the housing and is configured to receive the arc fault discharge through the housing and to cause the interrupter to move to the first position in response to the arc fault discharge.