A circuit breaker system includes a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker. The first circuit breaker has a first trip unit, a first control unit, and a first electrical sensor. The first control unit is configured to control the first trip unit. The second circuit breaker has a second trip unit, a second control unit, and a second electrical sensor. The second control unit is configured to control the second trip unit. The first control unit is in communication with the second control unit. The first control unit is configured to monitor the communication with the second control unit to determine whether there is an internal device failure in the second circuit breaker. The first control unit is configured to change the first control unit's standard tripping characteristics to emergency tripping characteristics based on detecting the internal device failure of the second circuit breaker.