A circuit interrupter comprising: a first conductor; a second conductor; a set of separable contacts electrically interposed between the first conductor and the second conductor, the set of separable contacts comprising a stationary contact situated on one of the first conductor and the second conductor; an arc runner assembly comprising: a first arc runner; a second arc runner; the first and second arc runners being spaced apart from one another; the first arc runner being situated adjacent a first side of the stationary contact and being structured to communicate an electrical arc away from the stationary contact in a first direction; and the second arc runner being situated adjacent a second side of the stationary contact opposite the first side and being structured to communicate an electrical arc away from the stationary contact in a second direction different than the first direction; characterized by a magnet apparatus (24, 26) that comprises two magnets (24, 26) and that is structured to generate a magnetic field wherein, upon separation of the set of separable contacts, the field is structured to communicate a positive DC arc along one of the first arc runner and the second arc runner and is structured to communicate a negative DC arc along the other of the first arc runner and the second arc runner. a first conductor; a second conductor; a set of separable contacts electrically interposed between the first conductor and the second conductor, the set of separable contacts comprising a stationary contact situated on one of the first conductor and the second conductor; an arc runner assembly comprising: a first arc runner; a second arc runner; the first and second arc runners being spaced apart from one another; the first arc runner being situated adjacent a first side of the stationary contact and being structured to communicate an electrical arc away from the stationary contact in a first direction; and the second arc runner being situated adjacent a second side of the stationary contact opposite the first side and being structured to communicate an electrical arc away from the stationary contact in a second direction different than the first direction; characterized by a first arc runner; a second arc runner; the first and second arc runners being spaced apart from one another; the first arc runner being situated adjacent a first side of the stationary contact and being structured to communicate an electrical arc away from the stationary contact in a first direction; and the second arc runner being situated adjacent a second side of the stationary contact opposite the first side and being structured to communicate an electrical arc away from the stationary contact in a second direction different than the first direction; characterized by a magnet apparatus (24, 26) that comprises two magnets (24, 26) and that is structured to generate a magnetic field wherein, upon separation of the set of separable contacts, the field is structured to communicate a positive DC arc along one of the first arc runner and the second arc runner and is structured to communicate a negative DC arc along the other of the first arc runner and the second arc runner.